Weakness Meaning
/ˈwiːk.nɪs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe condition of being weak.
nounAn inadequate quality; fault.
Sentence Examples
Unfair advantage was taken of Bill's weakness.
The weakness of vinyl is that it is easily affected by heat.
The disease causes progressive muscle weakness.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The virus exploits the body's ____ in its immune system to infect cells.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His main ____ is his inability to say no to people, which often leads to him being very busy today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English wayknesse, weykenesse, replacing earlier Middle English wocnesse, wakenes, wacnesse (“weakness”), from Old English wācnes (“weakness”). Equivalent to weak + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249:
"Bradford had preyed on Villa's inability to defend set pieces, corners in particular, in their first-leg win and took advantage of the weakness again as Hanson equalised to restore their two-goal aggregate lead."
— 2013 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4)”, in BBC:
"The compulsion to expose, renegotiate, or reinvent the strengths and weaknesses of dance tradition offers little in its final outcome to attract the average dance-goer."
— 2013, Deborah Hay, My Body, The Buddhist, →ISBN, page 78:
"Such a male-dominated environment is also likely to contribute to the lingering presence of an outdated belief that expressing feelings and demonstrating emotion is a sign of weakness, deterring some men from discussing their problems."
— 2020 July 1, Paul Stephen, “Vital Connections”, in Rail, page 41:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The virus exploits the body's ____ in its immune system to infect cells.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His main ____ is his inability to say no to people, which often leads to him being very busy today.