among the weakest

USAGE SUMMARY

"among the weakest" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing two or more items based on degree or quality. For example: "This team was among the weakest competitors in the tournament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Electronics and commercial aircraft were among the weakest categories.

The New York Times

Among the weakest sectors was construction, hit by plunging property prices, where 64,000 jobs disappeared.

The Guardian - Business

Apparel, jewelry and sporting goods were among the weakest categories at BJ's.

The New York Times

Funds focusing on cyclical industrial companies, financial services and natural resources were among the weakest performers.

The New York Times

The country's public sector landesbanks are considered among the weakest of Europe's large institutions.

The New York Times

Their road foes, the Astros and the Pirates, are among the weakest teams in baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

Strengthening American workers' collective bargaining power, among the weakest in the rich industrialized world, seems equally fanciful.

The New York Times

"PSA is among the weakest carmakers in Europe, and Mitsubishi is the weakest in Japan," he said.

The New York Times

Arizona's program "is among the weakest in the nation," said Linda Gorman, AAA's public affairs manager for the state.

The New York Times

Chemical, paper and retailing stocks were among the strongest groups traded yesterday, while hotels were among the weakest.

The New York Times

This is especially true in the largest cities and in many others, where CBS's newscasts are often among the weakest.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "among the weakest" to compare and contrast within a larger group or category. This helps to establish a clear understanding of relative strength or performance.

Common error

Avoid using "among the weakest" without specifying the criteria for weakness. Without context, the statement becomes vague and less impactful. Instead of saying "This is among the weakest", clarify "This is among the weakest performing products" to add precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "among the weakest" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun is part of a group that is characterized by being less strong, effective, or capable than others. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatical and often used in comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "among the weakest" is a grammatically sound and widely used adjective phrase that serves to compare and contrast a subject within a group, highlighting its relative lack of strength, effectiveness, or capability. As Ludwig AI states, it's a correct and usable phrase. It is versatile enough for use in neutral settings, yet it remains appropriate for formal and professional communications.

To ensure effective communication, writers should specify the criteria for weakness when using this phrase and take into consideration that a plethora of "one of the feeblest", "some of the poorest", or "part of the most vulnerable" can be employed to add shades of nuance. As demonstrated in the provided examples, "among the weakest" finds frequent use in news, business, and scientific contexts to express a critical assessment of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of the feeblest

Replaces "weakest" with a synonym implying a lack of strength or effectiveness.

counted among the least robust

Replaces "weakest" with "least robust", indicating a lack of resilience or strength.

among the frailest

Substitutes "weakest" with a term suggesting physical or metaphorical fragility.

considered among the most fragile

Emphasizes the delicate and easily damaged nature of the group.

some of the poorest

Shifts focus from strength to overall quality or condition, implying inferiority.

within the most substandard

Focuses on not meeting a required level of quality.

in the category of least potent

Highlights a lack of power or effectiveness.

part of the most vulnerable

Emphasizes susceptibility and lack of protection rather than inherent weakness.

numbered with the most ineffective

Indicates a lack of success in achieving desired results.

included in the most deficient

Highlights a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

FAQs

How can I use "among the weakest" in a sentence?

You can use "among the weakest" to describe a position relative to others in terms of strength or quality. For instance, "This proposal was "among the weakest" presented at the conference".

What are some alternatives to "among the weakest"?

Alternatives include "one of the feeblest", "some of the poorest", or "part of the most vulnerable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "among the weakest" or "one of the weakest"?

Both "among the weakest" and "one of the weakest" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Among the weakest" emphasizes a position within a group, while "one of the weakest" can highlight individuality within that group.

What's the difference between "among the weakest" and "the weakest"?

"Among the weakest" indicates membership in a group of weak items, while "the weakest" implies a single, definitively least strong item. For example, "This argument is "among the weakest"" suggests several weak arguments exist, whereas "This argument is the weakest" implies it's the least compelling of all.