intellectual weakness

USAGE SUMMARY

'intellectual weakness' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to someone's lack of understanding or knowledge in a particular field or area of study. For example: "My teacher recognized my intellectual weakness in math and provided me with additional resources to help me understand the material better."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Only the last of those duties is a mark of moral or intellectual weakness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Is the ability to move beyond black-and-white thinking now a sign of intellectual weakness?

The Guardian - Opinion

Aiming rockets at random civilians is an example of moral and intellectual weakness.

The New York Times - Magazine

Reflection, then, is a sign of tentativeness, indecisiveness, and intellectual weakness.

The Guardian

This obsession with an absolute notion of citizenship is precisely the manifesto's chief intellectual weakness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet this ghostly image of 21st-century war immediately exposes the intellectual weakness of the exhibition it announces.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It is at this point that the intellectual weaknesses of the Third Way become obvious.

The Guardian

Here I suspect, in other words, that an assessment of the intellectual weaknesses of students in school would show them to fall largely outside of the domain of mathematics and that, at the point of my visit at least, this was being demonstrated by the Teachers Institute.

Yale University

The French weakness, much decried of late by Anglo-American historians, for shrugging in the face of their own intellectuals' weakness for systems that would destroy their own freedoms is greeted by Stein with… a shrug.

The New Yorker

Calasso himself is a formidable intellectual, with a weakness for showing it, in his vocabulary, his verbal tics and his occasional over-reaching.

The Guardian - Books

But "In Our Time," an ideas show in which you run up quickly against your intellectual strengths and weaknesses, just as you did in school, garners two million listeners a week.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "intellectual weakness", be specific about the area of knowledge or skill where the weakness is apparent. Vague statements can be misinterpreted.

Common error

Avoid using "intellectual weakness" as a broad, dismissive label. Instead, identify specific cognitive skills or knowledge gaps to provide constructive feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intellectual weakness" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a deficiency or limitation in cognitive abilities. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples from diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intellectual weakness" is a valid and usable term to describe shortcomings in cognitive abilities. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples from diverse sources, shows that it functions primarily as a noun phrase, commonly used in neutral to formal contexts like news, science, and academia. While the phrase is grammatically correct, it's crucial to employ it with precision and sensitivity, avoiding overgeneralizations and focusing on specific cognitive areas. Alternatives like "cognitive deficiency" or "intellectual shortcoming" can offer nuanced perspectives. By recognizing and addressing "intellectual weakness" constructively, it transforms from a label into a starting point for growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cognitive deficiency

Replaces "intellectual" with "cognitive" to emphasize mental processes.

lack of intellectual strength

Rephrases "weakness" as a lack of "strength", offering a different perspective.

intellectual shortcoming

Substitutes "weakness" with "shortcoming", highlighting a defect or limitation.

cognitive vulnerability

Replaces "weakness" with "vulnerability", suggesting susceptibility to error or manipulation.

deficiency in intellect

Inverts the structure to focus on the "deficiency" rather than the attribute.

intellectual frailty

Uses "frailty" instead of "weakness", implying a delicate or fragile intellectual state.

limited intellectual capacity

Focuses on the limited extent of intellectual ability.

intellectual inadequacy

Replaces "weakness" with "inadequacy", emphasizing a lack of sufficiency.

intellectual deficit

Uses "deficit" to indicate a lack or shortage of intellectual ability.

cognitive impairment

Employs "impairment" to suggest a damaged or diminished cognitive function.

FAQs

How to use "intellectual weakness" in a sentence?

You can use "intellectual weakness" to describe a specific area where someone lacks knowledge or skill, such as "His "intellectual weakness" lies in understanding complex mathematical concepts".

What can I say instead of "intellectual weakness"?

You can use alternatives like "cognitive deficiency", "lack of intellectual strength", or "intellectual shortcoming" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "intellectual weakness" or "mental weakness"?

"Intellectual weakness" refers specifically to deficiencies in cognitive abilities and knowledge. "Mental weakness" is a broader term that can encompass emotional or psychological vulnerabilities.

What's the difference between "intellectual weakness" and "lack of knowledge"?

"Intellectual weakness" implies a broader, potentially inherent limitation in cognitive processing. "Lack of knowledge" simply means someone hasn't been exposed to or learned certain information, and can be remedied through education.