weakness

[week-nis]

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.

weakness

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nonweakness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of weakness¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see have a weakness for.

Synonym Study

See fault.

Example Sentences

Bigger-ticket categories remain constrained, and the ability of smaller cities to compensate for weakness in the megacities is still very much open to question.

Read more on Barron's

Bigger-ticket categories remain constrained, and the ability of smaller cities to compensate for weakness in the megacities is still very much open to question.

Read more on Barron's

The pressures on homeowners have been intensified by weakness in the labor market and the recent federal shutdown, she added.

Read more on MarketWatch

S&P Global’s Canada manufacturing purchasing managers index indicated industry activity steadied in October, with the pace of weakness softening after declining more sharply in September.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Policymakers’ cautious tone and the upcoming flood of economic releases could still leave the dollar vulnerable to falls, with its direction likely to hinge on the strength or weakness of the data, Walbaum said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deficiency 
• failing 
• flaw 
• fragility www.thesaurus.com
• frailty 
• gap 
• instability 
• lack 
• lapse 
• shortcoming 
• vulnerability