weaknessnoun
uk/ˈwiːk.nəs/us/ˈwiːk.nəs/B2 [ U ] the fact or state of not being strong or powerful:
Any change of policy will be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
B2 [ C ] a particular part or quality of someone or something that is not good or effective:
There are definite weaknesses in their security arrangements.
His main weakness as a manager is his inability to delegate.
The later novels show none of the weaknesses of his earlier work.
weakness for
C2 a strong liking, usually for something that might have unpleasant or unwanted effects:
My diet would be fine if only I didn't have a weakness for cookies.
More examples
- Any hesitation on the part of the government will be seen as weakness.
- This latest conflict further illustrates the weakness of the UN.
- His inability to handle the situation is a sure sign of weakness.
- Admitting you've made a mistake is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- In a position of authority, a weakness for the opposite sex leaves you open to blackmail.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Weakness and vulnerability
- Achilles heel
- at a low ebb idiom
- be (only) flesh and blood idiom
- be sb's poodle idiom
- chink in sb's armour idiom
- ebb
- faint
- impotent
- indefensible
- lax
- limp
- malleable
- susceptibility
- susceptible
- toothless
- totter
- underbelly
- unprotected
- unsteady
- wraith
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Faults and mistakes
Liking