weakness
weakness — noun
1. The condition of having very little physical power or force, making it difficult
The condition of having very little physical power or force, making it difficult to move, lift things, or resist pressure.
After three days without food, Tendai felt a terrible weakness in his legs and could barely stand.
weakness in + body part
The old wooden bridge had a structural weakness that engineers discovered during the safety inspection.
structural weakness (inanimate subject)
Élise's illness left her with a general weakness that made climbing the stairs feel impossible.
Joon tried to lift the heavy box, but the weakness in his arms forced him to set it back down.
Doctors told the patient that some muscle weakness was normal after such a long surgery.
- feebleness
more extreme; suggests someone can barely move or function
- frailty
focuses on fragile health, often due to age or illness
- fragility
emphasizes how easily something breaks or gives way
文法句型
weakness of [body part]
weakness in [body part]
用法筆記
Common in medical contexts to describe a patient's reduced physical capacity. Can be general ('general weakness') or localized ('muscle weakness', 'weakness in the legs').
常見錯誤
2. A shortcoming in a person's character, a system, or a plan that reduces effectiv
A shortcoming in a person's character, a system, or a plan that reduces effectiveness or creates the potential for mistakes.
One major weakness of Christopher's proposal was that it did not prepare for unexpected cost increases.
weakness of + [proposal/plan]
The bank's security system had a serious weakness that allowed strangers to access private customer accounts.
Vikram knew his biggest weakness as a manager was his impatience with team members who asked too many questions.
Ilan pointed out a weakness in the defence lawyer's argument that the judge had not noticed.
Every product goes through testing so that engineers can find and fix any design weakness before launch.
- flaw
similar but more about imperfection in design or appearance; sounds less serious
- shortcoming
suggests failing to meet a standard or expectation
- defect
more technical; an imperfection in a manufactured product or system
文法句型
weakness in [system/plan/character]
weakness of [person/thing]
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'in' to specify where the weakness exists ('weakness in the system') or 'of' to specify the owner ('weakness of the plan'). Can be used for people, systems, arguments, designs, or organizations.
常見錯誤
3. A strong liking for a particular thing or activity, often something that gives p
A strong liking for a particular thing or activity, often something that gives pleasure but that you know is not good for you or is not wise to indulge.
Karim has a weakness for dark chocolate and eats a whole bar every evening after dinner.
have a weakness for [indulgence]
Trang's only weakness is her love for old black-and-white films — she watches at least three a week.
The children have a weakness for sugary cereal, so their parents hide the boxes on the top shelf.
João admitted he had a weakness for expensive watches that he could not really afford on his salary.
Cole knew that his weakness for spicy food would cause him trouble, but he ordered the hottest curry anyway.
文法句型
have a weakness for [something]
用法筆記
Always used in the pattern 'have a weakness for + noun/gerund'. The weakness is usually for something that the person themselves recognize as potentially bad or indulgent. Commonly used with food, drink, entertainment, or shopping.
常見錯誤
4. A situation in which a country's money has a low value compared to the money of
A situation in which a country's money has a low value compared to the money of other nations, making imported goods more expensive and foreign travel costlier.
The weakness of the yen made it much more expensive for Japanese students to study abroad in the United States.
weakness of [currency] — economic impact
Amelia studied how the weakness of the peso affected local farmers who needed to purchase imported seeds and tools.
Export companies welcomed the weakness of their national currency because foreign buyers found their products cheaper.
Nellie worried that the weakness of the currency would cause the price of imported medicine to rise beyond reach.
The central bank took action to slow the currency weakness after investors began moving money out of the country.
- depreciation
more precise; describes a measured fall in value, often over time
- devaluation
refers specifically to a government's deliberate reduction of currency value
- strength (of currency)
When a currency has high value relative to others
- appreciation
A measured increase in a currency's value over time
文法句型
weakness of [currency]
[currency] weakness
用法筆記
Primarily used in economics and financial reporting. Often appears in the compound noun form 'currency weakness'. Can be modified by 'prolonged', 'persistent', or 'severe'.