weakness
/ˈwiːknəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwiːknəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwēk-nəs/ (ame, mw)
weakness — noun
- weaknesssingular
- weaknessesplural
1. how lacking in power, force, or ability a person, group, or thing is, especially
how lacking in power, force, or ability a person, group, or thing is, especially when this prevents them from performing well or reaching their goals.
After her illness, Meera felt weakness in her legs that made stairs hard to climb.
uncountable: weakness in [body part]
The weakness of the company's financial position worried its long-term investors.
uncountable: weakness of [organisation]
Omar admitted the weakness of his argument when the committee pressed for details.
The team's weakness in defence became obvious during the second half of the match.
Sivan could barely lift the suitcase due to physical weakness after the long flight.
- frailty
suggests physical or moral fragility; more literary or medical in tone
- powerlessness
focuses on lack of influence or ability to act, not physical strength
- fragility
describes something that breaks or fails easily under stress
文法句型
weakness + in [body part / area]
weakness + of [entity]
用法筆記
Typically uncountable when referring to a general lack of strength or power. Can be countable when listing specific types of weakness (economic weaknesses, strategic weaknesses).
常見錯誤
2. a specific area where a person, plan, system, or object performs poorly or falls
a specific area where a person, plan, system, or object performs poorly or falls short of what is expected, making the whole thing less successful.
The main weakness of the proposal was that it had no clear budget plan.
countable: weakness of [plan]
Feng's biggest weakness as a manager was not listening to junior staff.
The building's structural weakness was only discovered during the earthquake safety inspection.
One weakness of the camera is its battery, which dies after only two hours.
Hoa knew that procrastination was a real weakness and tried hard to overcome it.
- flaw
more neutral and technical; often used for objects, designs, or arguments
- defect
suggests a more serious or permanent fault, typically in a manufactured object
- shortcoming
focuses on a failure to meet a standard; common for personal or organisational qualities
文法句型
weakness + in [plan/system/person]
weakness + of [entity]
用法筆記
Countable — often used with 'a' and followed by 'of' (the weakness of the plan) or 'in' (a weakness in the system). The plural weaknesses is common when listing multiple faults.
常見錯誤
3. an unusually strong liking for a particular thing, often one that is not healthy
an unusually strong liking for a particular thing, often one that is not healthy, sensible, or good for you; also used for the thing itself that someone cannot resist.
Ignacio has a weakness for chocolate cake and always orders dessert when we eat out.
have a weakness for [food]
Tyler cannot resist expensive running shoes — that is his one financial weakness.
Tendai admitted that staying up late watching movies was a real weakness on work nights.
Allison's weakness for vintage handbags means she never passes a charity shop without going in.
Stefan's weakness for spicy food means he always orders the hottest dish on the menu.
文法句型
have a weakness + for + [thing liked]
用法筆記
Always in the pattern 'have a weakness for' — the article 'a' is required. The thing liked can be a type of food, drink, activity, or object of desire. This sense is informal and describes a mild inability to resist something enjoyable.