What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Strength vs Weak - What's the difference?

strength | weak |

As a noun strength

is the quality or degree of being strong.

As a verb strength

is (obsolete) to give strength to; to strengthen.

As an adjective weak is

lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.

strength

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The quality or degree of being strong.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • Our castle's strength will laugh a siege to scorn.
  • * , chapter=5
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength —all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.}}
  • The intensity of a force or power; potency.
  • * 1699 , , Heads designed for an essay on conversations
    • Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
  • The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
  • * Bible, (Psalms) xlvi. 1
    • God is our refuge and strength .
  • * (Jeremy Taylor) (1613–1677)
    • Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation.
  • A positive attribute.
  • (obsolete) A strong place; a stronghold.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * fortitude * power * ability * capability * potency * expertise

    Antonyms

    * (The quality of being strong) weakness * (A positive attribute) weakness

    Derived terms

    * bond strength * compressive strength * crushing strength * dielectic strength * fatigue strength * field strength * full-strength * impact strength * industrial-strength * inner strength * ionic strength * party strength * pillar of strength * relative strength * shear strength * strengthen * strengthening * strengthful * strengthless * strengthy * superstrength * tensile strength * tower of strength * ultimate strength * understrength * wet strength * yield strength

    Related terms

    * strong * strongly

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To give strength to; to strengthen.
  • * 1395 , (John Wycliffe), Bible , Job IV:
    • Lo! thou hast tau?t ful many men, and thou hast strengthid hondis maad feynt.
    (Chaucer)

    Statistics

    * English words suffixed with -th

    weak

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.
  • * Shakespeare
    • a poor, infirm, weak , and despised old man
  • * Dryden
    • weak with hunger, mad with love
  • Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.
    • a weak''' timber; a '''weak rope
  • Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.
    • weak''' resolutions; '''weak virtue
  • * Joseph Addison, The Fair Petinent Act I, scene I:
    • Guard thy heart / On this weak side, where most our nature fails.
  • Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
  • *
    • , title=The Mirror and the Lamp , chapter=2 citation , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.}}
  • (grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
  • # (Germanic languages, of verbs) Regular in inflection, lacking vowel changes and having a past tense with -d- or -t-.
  • # (Germanic languages, of nouns) Showing less distinct grammatical endings.
  • # (Germanic languages, of adjectives) Definite in meaning, often used with a definite article or similar word.
  • (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 statement which implies it.)
  • Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
  • * Milton
    • If evil thence ensue, / She first his weak indulgence will accuse.
  • Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.
    • The prosecution advanced a weak case.
  • * Milton
    • convinced of his weak arguing
  • Lacking in vigour or expression.
    • a weak''' sentence; a '''weak style
  • Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
  • * Shakespeare
    • weak prayers
  • (stock exchange) Tending towards lower prices.
    • a weak market

    Synonyms

    * (lacking in force or ability) feeble, frail, powerless, vincible, assailable ,vulnerable * (lacking in taste or potency) dilute, watery * See also

    Antonyms

    * (lacking in force or ability) healthy, powerful, robust, strong, invincible * (lacking in taste or potency) potent, robust, strong

    Derived terms

    * weaken * weakling * weakness * weak sister

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----