weakling

American  

[week-ling] / ˈwik lɪŋ /

noun

weaklings plural

1. a person who is physically or morally weak.

   Synonyms:

   namby-pamby, chicken, milksop

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adjective

1. weak; not strong.

weakling British  

/ ˈwiːklɪŋ /

noun

1. a person or animal that is lacking in strength or weak in constitution or character

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• weaklings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of weakling

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -ling ¹

Explanation

Someone who is either frail or cowardly can be called a weakling. When you're new to rock climbing, you may feel like a total weakling as you attempt to haul yourself up a steep, rocky incline. Weaklings are people or animals who are weak, either in a physical or mental way. In a litter of piglets, the tiny runt is a weakling, struggling to get enough food to survive alongside its stronger litter mates. Weakling can also be a derogatory way to refer to a person who lacks physical strength or is easily intimidated: "Don't be a weakling — defend yourself against that mean gossip!"

Example Sentences

Former Big Ten weakling Indiana defied all conventional wisdom to become the nation’s only undefeated team and claim its first-ever No. 1 ranking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

My mother was the weakling; my father was the smartest person in the room.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024

The U.S. economy is not a 90-pound weakling when it comes to manufacturing muscle.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2023

So on paper, their mayor can beat our mayor in sheer authority, but neither are L.A.’s mayoral powers the 98-pound weakling they’re sometimes made out to be.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2022

I knew I’d never be as strong as my grandfather, but I wasn’t a gutless weakling, either.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• wimp