weak response

USAGE SUMMARY

"weak response" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone has provided an inadequate or unsatisfactory response to something. For example, "Her weak response when asked to explain her mistake did not help her case at all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tells about his weak response.

The New Yorker

That's a very weak response".

The New York Times

"The department's weak response is disappointing, but also unsurprising.

The Guardian - Business

The bill is a weak response to an urgent need.

The New York Times

Just telling a technical story, though, is a weak response to Weinberg's assertion.

The Guardian - Books

"It was a weak leader in a weak government delivering a weak response.

The Guardian

Mr. Bradley's weak response to Mr. Gore's misleading charge has haunted him to this day.

The New York Times

And he was back later in the week expressing his fear that the Government may be planning a weak response.

The Guardian - Money

Some reasons for the weak response are pretty plain to see: our leadership is complacent and detached.

The Guardian

Overwhelmed municipalities, especially if weakened by corruption, offer a weak response.

The Economist

The sale of bonds by the German government received a weak response.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a reaction, consider using "weak response" to emphasize that it was insufficient or inadequate for the situation. For instance, 'The government's "weak response" to the crisis drew criticism'.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences with "weak response" in a passive voice that obscures who is responsible for the response. Instead of 'A "weak response" was given', specify who gave the weak response: 'The manager gave a "weak response"'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak response" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'weak' modifies the noun 'response'. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. Examples show it describes an action or statement that is inadequate or insufficient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak response" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe an action or statement perceived as inadequate or insufficient. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's utilized across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using "weak response", avoid passive voice constructions to maintain clarity and specify the actor responsible for the response. Alternatives such as "inadequate reaction" or "poor answer" can add variety to your writing while conveying a similar meaning. Remember that the effectiveness of "weak response" lies in its ability to highlight deficiencies and provoke critical evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadequate reaction

Replaces 'response' with 'reaction' and 'weak' with 'inadequate', indicating a deficient or insufficient reaction.

feeble reaction

Substitutes 'weak' with 'feeble', conveying a lack of strength or effectiveness in the reaction.

insufficient answer

Changes 'response' to 'answer' and 'weak' to 'insufficient', suggesting the reply provided did not meet the necessary requirements or expectations.

half-hearted response

Indicates the response was not fully committed or enthusiastic.

disappointing response

Conveys that the response failed to meet expectations and caused disappointment.

lackluster reply

Replaces both words to indicate a reply that is uninspired and lacks enthusiasm.

poor answer

Uses 'poor' to describe the quality of the answer given, implying it was below standard or unsatisfactory.

unenthusiastic reaction

Emphasizes the lack of excitement or interest in the reaction.

tepid answer

Suggests the answer was unenthusiastic or half-hearted.

underwhelming reply

Highlights the reply's failure to impress or satisfy expectations.

FAQs

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

Use "weak response" to describe an action or statement that is insufficient or inadequate. For example, 'The company's "weak response" to the data breach angered many customers'.

What are some alternatives to "weak response"?

You can use alternatives like "inadequate reaction", "feeble reaction", or "poor answer" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "weak response" or "ineffective response"?

Both "weak response" and "ineffective response" can be appropriate. "Weak response" emphasizes the lack of strength, while "ineffective response" emphasizes the failure to produce the desired result. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What does it mean when someone's actions are described as a "weak response"?

Describing someone's actions as a "weak response" means their actions were insufficient to address the situation at hand or lacked the necessary impact or force.