weak

Meaning

Adjective

• Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.
• Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.
• Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.
• Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
• Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
• That does not ionize completely into anions and cations in a solution.
• One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
• Bad or uncool.
• Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
• Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
• Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.
• Lacking in vigour or expression.
• Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
• Tending towards lower prices.
• Lacking contrast.

Related

Similar words

• feeble, frail, powerless, vincible, assailable, vulnerable
• dilute, watery

Opposite words

• healthy, powerful, robust, strong, invincible
• potent, robust, strong
• strong

Origin

• From Middle English weyk, wayk, weik, waik, from Old Norse veikr, from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weyk-. Cognate with Old English wāc, Saterland Frisian wook, West Frisian weak, Dutch week, German weich, Norwegian veik, Swedish vek, Icelandic veikur. Related to Old English wīcan. week, and wick.