substantially weak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially weak" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly lacking in strength, effectiveness, or validity. Example: "The evidence presented in the case was found to be substantially weak, leading to the dismissal of the charges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

(iii) Users 1, 4, 7, and 9 had substantially weak passwords.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Substantially weak dependence of the performance on the number of particles is suitable to collisionless N-body simulations, since these simulations are usually performed with sophisticated N-body solvers such as Tree- and TreePM-methods combined with an individual timestep scheme.

New Astronomy

This is attributed to the regional development of a substantially weak shear zone (101 to 103 m thick) along this portion of the plate interface caused by the presence of hydrous minerals such as serpentines and talc (Hirauchi et al. 2010b; Kawano et al. 2011; Hirauchi et al. 2013).

Earth, Planets and Space

In relation, the formation of ASC PYD-PYD homodimers as well the CARD-mediated homodimerizations of caspase-2, CARD8, and NOD2 appeared substantially weak.

Plosone

Mu13 was probably not present in M14 and Q66 because the hybridized bands were substantially weak in comparison to other lines.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

rather than "The significant association in multilevel models together with the substantially weak association with one personality measure (trait anxiety) can indicate that the construct of social capital might be more than an aspect of an individual's personality".

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Only about 8percentt reported "substantially weaker demand" for such projects, the survey said.

The New York Times

The aliphatic amines are stronger bases than ammonia, and the aromatic ones are substantially weaker.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The material, reinforced carbon-carbon taken from the shuttle Discovery, is substantially weaker and less flexible than fiberglass.

The New York Times

Revenue from its wireless chip unit fell 8 percent, to $658 million, partly because of "substantially weaker demand" for wireless baseband chips.

The New York Times - Tech

Although some of the counterfeit parts were already in use when the fraud was discovered, metallurgical testing revealed that they were not substantially weaker than the proper bearings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially weak", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as lacking strength, effectiveness, or validity. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially weak" when the weakness is only slight or moderate. The term implies a significant deficiency, so reserve it for situations where the weakness is considerable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially weak" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes something that lacks strength or effectiveness to a significant degree. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is usable in written English to describe something significantly lacking in strength or validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "substantially weak" is a grammatically correct and usable term, primarily functioning as a compound adjective to describe a significant lack of strength or effectiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate when denoting a considerable deficiency, with usage slightly more common in scientific contexts but also present in news and media. While synonyms such as "considerably feeble" or "significantly fragile" exist, avoid overstating weakness or using the phrase when a minor deficiency is present. Remember to use it when you want to convey that something is more than just slightly weak.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably feeble

Replaces "weak" with "feeble", suggesting a lack of strength or effectiveness to a notable degree.

significantly fragile

Emphasizes the delicacy or vulnerability of something, indicating it is substantially weak.

markedly deficient

Highlights a clear and noticeable lack in quality or strength.

noticeably frail

Suggests a visible weakness or lack of robustness.

appreciably impaired

Focuses on the compromised or weakened state of something, indicating a substantial reduction in functionality.

substantially compromised

Indicates that something has been significantly weakened or undermined.

considerably undermined

Suggests a notable weakening or erosion of something's foundation or strength.

significantly reduced

Focuses on the diminished level of strength or effectiveness.

markedly deteriorated

Highlights the worsened condition of something, indicating a substantial decline in strength or quality.

noticeably weakened

Directly states that something has become weaker to a noticeable degree.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially weak" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially weak" to describe something lacking significant strength or effectiveness. For example, "The evidence was "substantially weak"" or "The connection was "substantially weak"".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "substantially weak"?

Alternatives include "considerably feeble", "significantly fragile", or "markedly deficient", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "very substantially weak"?

Yes, adding "very" to "substantially weak" is generally redundant. The word "substantially" already implies a significant degree, so adding "very" doesn't add meaningful emphasis and can sound awkward.

Which is more appropriate: "substantially weak" or "relatively weak"?

"Substantially weak" implies a significant degree of weakness, while "relatively weak" suggests weakness only in comparison to something else. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the level and nature of the weakness you're describing.