weak
Direct German Translations & Equivalents:
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Definitions & Usage
Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.
Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.
Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.
(often with for) Having a strong, irrepressible emotional love for someone or (less often) something; sentimentally affected by such love.
Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
(grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
(chemistry) That does not ionize completely into anions and cations in a solution.
(physics) One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
(slang) Bad or uncool.
(mathematics, logic) Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.
Lacking in vigour or expression.
Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
(stock market) Tending towards lower prices.
(photography) Lacking contrast.
Notable Literary & Historical Quotes
“a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man”
— c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
“weak with hunger, mad with love”
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
“The prospects for the global economy as outlined by the IMF are the third weakest since 2001, behind only the 2008 financial crisis and the worst phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Global growth has fallen below 2% just five times since 1970.”
— 2022 October 11, Julia Horowitz, “‘The worst is yet to come’: IMF issues stark recession warning”, in CNN, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2025: