relative weaker

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relative weaker" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "relatively weaker." You can use it when comparing the strength or effectiveness of one thing in relation to another, indicating that it is weaker in comparison. Example: "In this competition, the team was relatively weaker than their opponents, which affected their performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

All of the candidates were considering whether Mr. McCain's victory in South Carolina would make up for the relative weaker organization he has here compared with Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Romney.

The New York Times

Antiviral drugs and natural compounds revealed ribavirin, interferon-α, coumarin and tannic acid have relative weaker efficacy compared to Q7R.

Antiviral Research

Meanwhile, the relative weaker peaks of 146 and 626 can1 can be contributed to infrared vibration mode Γ15, which are excited from oxygen vacancy [42].

Nanoscale Research Letters

The PEO block in the copolymer segment tends to defray the interaction strength in the P2VP-b-PEO/PVPh blends because of relative weaker interaction between PEO and PVPh than that between P2VP and PVPh pairs.

Polymer

In contrast, the antimicrobial activities of recombinant Bmglv2 4 were relative weaker, but their induced expressions were significantly higher than Bmglv1.

Plosone

AsCOI1 more dramatically responded to heat, moderately to MeJA and relative weaker to mechanical wounding.

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The "fast-heating" process limits the aggregation of the catalyst NPs on the substrate and the catalyst with small size should be relatively easy to grow in tip-growth mechanism because of the relative weak interaction with the substrate surface.

Nano-Micro Letters

Consequently, from the system point of view, only the relatively strong sub-carriers, possibly from different users, are selected and the relative weak ones are avoided.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

CBS's only relative weak spot came at 10 p.m., as the second-season premiere of "Elementary" was clearly stunted by the extra hour of "Grey's".

The New York Times

It is an intriguing addition to Klinsmann's arsenal, even more so when you look at the relative weak links in the full-back positions on the German team.

The Guardian - Sport

Not only does he routinely pull off feats that I've never before seen, he has consistently evolved his game to fix the relative weak spots he was previously criticized for.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "relatively weaker" instead of "relative weaker". The adverb "relatively" correctly modifies the adjective "weaker", ensuring grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "relative" as an adverb to modify an adjective like "weaker". "Relative" is an adjective itself, and the adverbial form "relatively" is needed to correctly express the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relative weaker" is intended to function as a comparative description, indicating a lower degree of strength in relation to something else. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

86%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relative weaker" aims to express a comparison where something is less strong than another. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "relatively weaker". While the phrase appears in both scientific and news contexts, its usage is uncommon. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's best to use "relatively weaker" or alternatives like "comparatively weaker". Sources like The New York Times and various scientific journals provide examples, but remember to use the adverbial form for correct grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparatively weaker

Replaces "relative" with "comparatively" maintaining a similar meaning.

relatively less strong

Uses "relatively" instead of "relative" and replaces "weaker" with "less strong" for a more descriptive phrase.

somewhat feebler

Employs "somewhat" and "feebler" to convey a slightly diminished strength.

noticeably less potent

Substitutes "weaker" with "less potent", implying reduced effectiveness.

moderately diminished

Replaces the original phrase with a description of a state of reduction or lessening.

distinctly less robust

Uses "distinctly" to emphasize the difference in strength, and uses "less robust" instead of "weaker".

marginally less effective

Conveys the idea of being slightly less effective while maintaining comparison.

slightly impaired

Indicates a small degree of damage or weakening.

comparatively undermined

Emphasizes reduction in effectiveness through external factors.

somewhat compromised

Indicates the weakening has resulted from external or internal forces.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "relative weaker"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to use "relatively weaker". The word "relatively" is an adverb and is needed to modify the adjective "weaker".

Can I use "relative" to describe a degree of weakness?

No, "relative" is an adjective that shows a relationship or proportion. To describe a degree of weakness in comparison to something else, use the adverb "relatively weaker".

What's the difference between "relative" and "relatively"?

"Relative" is an adjective that means 'considered in relation to something else'. "Relatively" is an adverb that means 'in relation, comparison, or proportion to something else'. Therefore, to modify "weaker", you need the adverb "relatively weaker".

Are there any alternatives to "relatively weaker"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "comparatively weaker", "somewhat feebler", or "noticeably less potent" to convey a similar meaning.