weakling
C1Informal, often pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A person or animal that lacks physical or moral strength; someone who is feeble, ineffectual, or easily overcome.
Can refer figuratively to an organization, system, or argument that is fundamentally flawed, fragile, or lacking in power.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly pejorative term implying contempt or pity; emphasizes a lack of power, resilience, or courage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Slightly more common in British English literary and journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Identical strong pejorative connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but appears in similar contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be/become/prove/consider (someone) a weaklingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's no weakling.”
- “Don't be such a weakling.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to criticise a company's leadership ('The CEO was seen as a weakling in the negotiations.') or a non-competitive firm.
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical or sociological texts analysing perceived national or moral decline.
Everyday
Used as an insult, often among children or in competitive contexts, or self-deprecatingly about lacking stamina.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He called his little brother a weakling.
- Don't be a weakling, try to lift the box yourself.
- He felt like a weakling after failing the fitness test.
- The opposition leader was dismissed as a political weakling with no clear policies.
- His constant apologies made him appear a moral weakling to his colleagues.
- The regime's propaganda portrayed its democratic neighbours as feeble weaklings, incapable of decisive action.
- The argument, though emotionally appealing, was a logical weakling that crumbled under scrutiny.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'ling' as a 'small one' (like 'duckling'). A weakling is a 'small/young one' in terms of strength.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS SIZE/MASS; WEAKNESS IS SMALLNESS/FRAGILITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'слабак' in formal contexts; it's highly informal/offensive. 'Слабый человек' is more neutral.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'weakeling' (incorrect). Using it in formal or polite contexts. Confusing with 'weekling' (non-word).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'weakling' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is exclusively a noun. There is no adjective form 'weakling'.
Yes, it is gender-neutral, though historically more often applied to men. It carries the same pejorative force.
A 'coward' specifically lacks courage in the face of fear or danger. A 'weakling' lacks strength more broadly - physical, mental, or moral - and may imply general ineffectiveness, not just fear.
Yes, it is almost always intended as an insult expressing contempt or severe disapproval. It should be avoided in polite or professional discourse.
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