weakness

American  

[week-nis] / ˈwik nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak; lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness.

   Synonyms:

   fragility

   Antonyms:

   strength

2. an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person's character; slight fault or defect.

   to show great sympathy for human weaknesses.

   Synonyms:

   flaw

3. a self-indulgent liking or special fondness, as for a particular thing.

   I've always had a weakness for the opera.

   Synonyms:

   appetite, hunger, passion, penchant

4. an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist.

   Chocolates were her weakness.

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weakness British  

/ ˈwiːknɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak

2. a deficiency or failing, as in a person's character

3. a self-indulgent fondness or liking

   a weakness for chocolates

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weakness Idioms  

1. see have a weakness for.

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Related Words

See fault.

Other Word Forms

• nonweakness noun

Etymology

Origin of weakness

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English waikenes, weikenes. See weak, -ness

Example Sentences

The rotation so far suggests that major indexes like the S&P 500 can in fact stomach some weakness in major tech names, as long as stocks in other sectors can pick up the slack.

From MarketWatch

Would be a potential Australian weakness for England to exploit had the Ashes not already been lost.

From BBC

Declining wage growth isn’t surprising, given growing weakness in the labor market.

From Barron's

Persistent weakness in oil prices also raises important questions.

From Barron's

Operational reviews following these attacks will identify further weaknesses, particularly in immigration screening, intelligence integration, gun laws and front-line policing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deficiency
• failing
• flaw
• fragility
• frailty
• gap
• instability
• lack
• lapse
• shortcoming
• vulnerability