Weakling: meaning, definitions and examples

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weakling

[ ˈwiːklɪŋ ]

^{Context #1}

in sports

A person who is physically weak or lacking in strength.

Synonyms

milquetoast, pushover, wimp

Examples of usage

He was always bullied in school for being a weakling.
The coach tried to motivate the weakling to improve his performance.

^{Context #2}

informal

A person who is easily dominated or manipulated by others.

Synonyms

doormat, follower, puppet

Examples of usage

Don't be a weakling and stand up for yourself!
She felt like a weakling for always giving in to peer pressure.

Translations

Translations of the word "weakling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fraco

🇮🇳 कमज़ोर आदमी

🇩🇪 Schwächling

🇮🇩 orang lemah

🇺🇦 слабак

🇵🇱 słabeusz

🇯🇵 弱虫 (よわむし)

🇫🇷 faible

🇪🇸 débil

🇹🇷 zayıf

🇰🇷 약골 (yakgol)

🇸🇦 ضعيف

🇨🇿 slaboch

🇸🇰 slaboch

🇨🇳 弱者 (ruòzhě)

🇸🇮 slabič

🇮🇸 aumingja

🇰🇿 әлсіз

🇬🇪 სუსტი

🇦🇿 zəif

🇲🇽 débil

Word origin

The word 'weakling' originated in the late 16th century, combining 'weak' with the suffix '-ling' to denote a person who is weak in a derogatory manner. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass both physical weakness and mental susceptibility to manipulation. It is often used in a negative or demeaning context to criticize someone's lack of strength or resilience.

See also: weak, weaken, weakened, weakening, weaker, weakly, weakness, weaknesses.