weak

USAGE SUMMARY

"weak" is an accepted and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical sensation, such as "She felt weak in her knees" or an opinion, such as "Their argument was weak".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Woods's alleged cavorting with Vegas waitresses and celebrity groupies, his woeful "sexts" and voice mails, his driving his S.U.V. into a tree: all these things make him look weak and discombobulated.

The Economist

Meanwhile Reg Wilson, who had committed a vile, sadistic murder and been diagnosed as a psychopath, said he believed hope was only for the weak.

The Guardian

While he was well enough the couple went sailing together, and when he was too weak for that he painted obsessively, on cardboard and brown parcel paper, an old bait box, and pieces of china.

The Guardian - Arts

"Part of the activism around women's rights is: 'Let's prove that women are as good as men.' But the other side is you should look at the fact that men can be weak and vulnerable".

The Guardian

Eventually he emerged, weak from his ordeal and his diet of only two bananas per day during his captivity.

The Guardian

Platinum refiner Johnson Matthey dropped 102p to £23.06 as third quarter profits fell 19% to £84.3m, hit by lower sales of catalytic converters for car exhaust systems in Europe and weak demand in Japan.

The Guardian - Business

Two minutes from the break Alan Mannus saved a weak penalty from the Kilmarnock midfielder Shiels after the Saints left-back Callum Davidson was adjudged by the referee Craig Charleston to have pulled down Gary Harkins in the box.

The Guardian - Sport

Putin spoke a lot on Thursday about sanctions and the weak rouble acting as a stimulus for local businesses; that Russian products would now become more competitive.

The Guardian

In fact, active government, as well as being essential for economic success, is the only way of protecting the weak and redressing the balance of power between rich and poor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Draghi said at the IMF's meetings in Washington over the weekend that financial buffers were sufficient to prevent contagion spreading to other weak economies in the currency union.

The Guardian

"They were very weak and had had no training".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts, consider using "weak" to indicate a deficiency in quality or impact. For instance, "a weak argument" suggests a poorly reasoned or unconvincing point.

Common error

While "weak" is versatile, avoid overusing it in informal settings where more nuanced or descriptive adjectives might be more appropriate. Instead of saying "That's weak", try "That's lame" or "That's uncool" to better fit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "weak" primarily functions as an adjective, describing a noun's lack of strength, force, or effectiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is an accepted word. Examples include describing a "weak market", a "weak penalty", or a "weak government".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Business

10%

Less common in

Opinion

8%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "weak" functions as a versatile adjective indicating a lack of strength, power, or effectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms it's a well-accepted term, commonly used across various contexts, from news and media to sports and business. Its usage is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. While semantically similar alternatives like "feeble" and "frail" exist, "weak" remains a widely understood and frequently employed term. A key takeaway is to ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning, avoiding overuse in informal settings where more descriptive alternatives might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeble

Emphasizes a lack of physical strength or energy.

frail

Suggests a delicate or fragile state, often due to age or illness.

powerless

Highlights the absence of authority or control.

vulnerable

Indicates susceptibility to harm or attack.

defenseless

Suggests a lack of protection or the inability to defend oneself.

unstable

Describes a lack of firmness or reliability.

flimsy

Implies a lack of substance or solidity.

tenuous

Suggests a weak or uncertain connection or hold.

diluted

Refers to something that has been made weaker or less potent.

ineffective

Highlights a lack of ability to produce the desired result.

FAQs

How can I use "weak" in a sentence?

You can use "weak" to describe a lack of physical strength (e.g., "He felt weak after the illness"), a lack of power or influence (e.g., "a weak economy"), or a deficiency in quality (e.g., "a weak argument").

What words can I use instead of "weak"?

Alternatives to "weak" include "feeble", "frail", "powerless", or "vulnerable" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a weak" or "an weak"?

The correct article to use before "weak" is "a" because "weak" begins with a consonant sound. Therefore, you should say "a weak argument".

What is the difference between "weak" and "weaker"?

"Weak" is the base adjective, while "weaker" is the comparative form, used to compare two things in terms of their lack of strength or effectiveness. For example, "This argument is weak, but that one is "weaker"".