weaker
/wiːk/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈikɚ] /wiːk/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈikɚ] /ˈwēk How to pronounce weak (audio)/ (ame, mw)
weaker — adjective
- weakerpositive
- weakerercomparative
- weakerestsuperlative
1. having less physical strength or power than is normal or expected, so that lifti
having less physical strength or power than is normal or expected, so that lifting, carrying, or moving things is difficult
After her surgery, Mira felt too weak to walk up the stairs by herself.
too + adj + to-infinitive
The old wooden chair had a weak leg that cracked under the weight of the books.
weak + noun (physical object)
Zayd's arms felt weak after he carried boxes up to the sixth floor.
Baby birds are too weak to leave the nest during their first few weeks.
Lin felt weak in the knees after running for an hour without stopping.
常見錯誤
2. lacking the determination or confidence to make firm decisions or to resist pres
lacking the determination or confidence to make firm decisions or to resist pressure or temptation from others
The manager was too weak to stand up to the team's unreasonable demands.
too weak to [resist/stand up to]
A weak leader who avoids hard choices will quickly lose the respect of the group.
weak + leader / character
Tyler knew his weak character made him say yes when he really wanted to say no.
Sari was weak and gave in to the pressure to lend money she could not spare.
Kamal showed his weak character by blaming his teammates for the project delays he caused.
- spineless
more informal and disapproving; suggests total lack of courage
- timid
focuses on shyness and lack of confidence rather than moral weakness
- indecisive
specifically about difficulty making decisions
- determined
having firmness of purpose
- resolute
formal; very firm in purpose
用法筆記
Often paired with nouns describing willpower or resolve, such as will, character, or spirit. Common in patterns like 'weak + enough to + verb' or 'too weak to + verb'.
常見錯誤
3. not supported by good reasons or clear evidence, so that other people are unlike
not supported by good reasons or clear evidence, so that other people are unlikely to accept or believe it
His excuse for being late was so weak that nobody in the office believed it.
weak excuse / weak argument
The lawyer made a weak argument and the judge quickly ruled against her client.
Bao's defense of the project was weak because the budget figures did not add up.
Fatima gave a weak explanation for the missing receipts, and her manager demanded proof.
- unconvincing
more formal; directly states that something fails to persuade
- flimsy
informal; suggests the excuse or argument is obviously poor
- lame
informal and slightly disapproving; used for weak excuses
- convincing
persuasive and believable
- strong
well-supported by evidence or logic
用法筆記
Typically applied to things people say or write: arguments, excuses, reasons, evidence, or explanations. Not used for people directly (compare with sense 2).
常見錯誤
4. made with so much water that the flavour is very mild and not at all strong
made with so much water that the flavour is very mild and not at all strong
The coffee at that café is so weak that it looks like brown water.
weak coffee / weak tea
Nikhil asked for a weaker tea because the strong caffeine kept him awake at night.
comparative: weaker + drink
This lemonade tastes weak — I think we need to add more lemon juice and sugar.
Zola gives her children weak orange juice mixed with water so it is not too sweet.
- strong
having a rich or intense flavour
用法筆記
Primarily used for hot and cold drinks (tea, coffee, juice, lemonade) where the balance of water to flavouring ingredients determines the taste. Not used for food texture or solid items.
常見錯誤
5. not reaching the expected level of skill, ability, or quality; falling short of
not reaching the expected level of skill, ability, or quality; falling short of what is needed or required
Matthew's math skills are weak, so he goes to extra tutoring twice a week.
weak [skill/ability] — subject + be + weak
The weakest player on the team missed three easy shots during the final game.
superlative: weakest + noun
Tamar's Spanish is weak because she has not practised speaking it in years.
The student's essay was weak — it lacked clear examples and did not answer the question.
Yuki's weak performance in the physics midterm did not mean she would fail the whole course.
- poor
more direct and general; suggests a low standard
- inadequate
more formal; suggests not enough for the purpose
- deficient
formal; stresses that something important is missing
用法筆記
Often precedes nouns describing academic subjects, skills, or performance areas (e.g. weak point, weak area, weak subject). Can also describe written work (essay, report, presentation).
常見錯誤
6. producing only a small number of ions when dissolved in water, and therefore not
producing only a small number of ions when dissolved in water, and therefore not strongly acidic or alkaline
Vinegar contains a weak acid that is safe to use in salad dressings at home.
weak acid / weak base / weak alkali
A weak base like baking soda can help neutralise the acid in your stomach.
In chemistry class, Aarav tested a weak alkali and found its pH level was close to 8.
Unlike strong acids, weak acids do not fully break apart into ions when mixed with water.
- strong
producing many ions; strongly acidic or alkaline
用法筆記
A technical term in chemistry. The opposite is 'strong' (of acids and bases). Learners at CEFR A1-B2 are unlikely to need this sense.
常見錯誤
7. describes a chin that is small and slopes backward instead of projecting forward
describes a chin that is small and slopes backward instead of projecting forward from the face
Anya has always felt self-conscious about her weak chin and avoids profile photos.
collocation: weak chin
The dentist said that a weak chin can make a person snore loudly at night.
In portrait drawing, a weak chin is often softened with careful shading around the jawline.
His weak chin gave his face a round, gentle look that matched his kind personality.
用法筆記
Only used to describe the shape of a chin — never for other facial features or personality traits.
常見錯誤
8. not having enough power, control, or authority to make others obey or follow you
not having enough power, control, or authority to make others obey or follow your decisions
After losing the election, the mayor was too weak to push new policies forward.
pattern: too weak to + infinitive
Ritu felt her position was weak because no senior member backed her ideas.
A weak government often struggles to collect taxes from wealthy corporations.
The opposition party attacked the president for being weak on national security during the crisis.
International aid came slowly because the country's weak leadership could not guarantee safe delivery routes.
- powerless
stronger and more absolute; suggests a complete lack of ability to act
- ineffective
focuses on the result — failing to produce the desired effect
- feeble
more negative and dismissive; often used to criticise
用法筆記
Frequently describes governments, leaders, committees, or positions of authority. Often followed by 'on' to state the issue where power is lacking.
常見錯誤
❌ 'She felt weak in the meeting.' (ambiguous) — clarify: 'She felt her argument was weak in the meeting' or 'She felt physically weak in the meeting.'
9. not strong, clear, or noticeable in physical qualities such as brightness, sound
not strong, clear, or noticeable in physical qualities such as brightness, sound, taste, or smell
The coffee tasted weak because Brian had used only one spoonful of ground beans.
pattern: weak-tasting [noun]
A weak signal on Dewi's phone meant she could not hear her brother calling.
collocation: weak signal
The afternoon sun cast a weak, yellow light through the dusty bedroom window.
Hyun added more chilli to the sauce because the first batch tasted too weak.
A weak breeze moved the curtains but was not enough to cool the room.
用法筆記
Describes sensory qualities — sight (light, colour), sound (voice, signal), taste (drink, food), smell (odour), or physical force (wind, current). The opposite for most uses is 'strong'.
常見錯誤
10. describes a currency, stock, or economy that is falling or expected to fall in v
describes a currency, stock, or economy that is falling or expected to fall in value relative to others
Investors sold their shares quickly after the company released a weak quarterly report.
collocation: weak report / weak earnings
A weak yen helped Japanese car makers sell more vehicles in overseas markets.
collocation: weak [currency name]
The housing market remained weak throughout the winter, with very few new buyers coming forward.
Owen kept his savings in gold because analysts expected a weak dollar for months.
Demand for luxury goods turned weak as the country's economy slowed down during the recession.
用法筆記
Used mainly in financial and economic contexts. Common subjects: currencies (dollar, yen, euro), markets (stock, housing, bond), economic indicators (demand, growth, recovery). Opposite is 'strong'.