(~er, ~est)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If someone is ~, they are not healthy or do not have good muscles, so that they cannot move quickly or carry heavy things.
I was too ~ to move or think or speak...
His arms and legs were ~.
? strong
ADJ
~ly
‘I’m all right,’ Max said ~ly, but his breathing came in jagged gasps...
ADV: ADV with v
~ness
Symptoms of anaemia include ~ness, fatigue and iron deficiency.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If someone has an organ or sense that is ~, it is not very effective or powerful, or is likely to fail.
Until the beating, Cantanco’s eyesight had been ~, but adequate...
She tired easily and had a ~ heart.
ADJ
3.
If you describe someone as ~, you mean that they are not very confident or determined, so that they are often frightened or worried, or easily influenced by other people.
You have been conditioned to believe that it is ~ to be scared.
? strong
ADJ
~ness
Many people felt that admitting to stress was a sign of ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
If you describe someone’s voice or smile as ~, you mean that it not very loud or big, suggesting that the person lacks confidence, enthusiasm, or physical strength.
His ~ voice was almost inaudible...
= feeble
ADJ
~ly
He smiled ~ly at reporters.
ADV: ADV after v
5.
If an object or surface is ~, it breaks easily and cannot support a lot of weight or resist a lot of strain.
The owner said the bird may have escaped through a ~ spot in the aviary...
Swimming is helpful for bones that are porous and ~.
? strong
ADJ
6.
A ~ physical force does not have much power or intensity.
The molecules in regular liquids are held together by relatively ~ bonds...
? strong
ADV
~ly
The mineral is ~ly magnetic...
ADV: ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v
7.
If individuals or groups are ~, they do not have any power or influence.
The council was too ~ to do anything about it.
= powerless
ADJ
•
The ~ are people who are ~.
He voiced his solidarity with the ~ and defenceless.
N-PLURAL: the N
~ness
It made me feel patronised, in a position of ~ness.
= impotence
N-UNCOUNT
8.
A ~ government or leader does not have much control, and is not prepared or able to act firmly or severely.
The changes come after mounting criticism that the government is ~ and indecisive...
The chief editorial writer also blames ~ leadership for the current crisis.
? strong
ADJ
~ly
...the ~ly-led movement for reform.
ADV
~ness
Officials fear that he might interpret the emphasis on diplomacy as a sign of ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
9.
If you describe something such a country’s currency, economy, industry, or government as ~, you mean that it is not successful, and may be likely to fail or collapse.
The ~ dollar means American goods are relative bargains for foreigners...
? strong
ADJ
~ness
The ~ness of his regime is showing more and more...
N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss
10.
If something such as an argument or case is ~, it is not convincing or there is little evidence to support it.
Do you think the prosecution made any particular errors, or did they just have a ~ case?...
? strong
ADJ
~ly
The doctor ~ly puts the case that the mother-to-be has many relatives, so needs less support from the hospital.
ADV: ADV before v
~ness (~nesses)
...the strengths and ~nesses of the government’s case...
N-VAR
11.
A ~ drink, chemical, or drug contains very little of a particular substance, for example because a lot of water has been added to it.
...a cup of ~ tea...
...a very ~ bleach solution.
? strong
ADJ
12.
Your ~ points are the qualities or talents you do not possess, or the things you are not very good at.
Geography was my ~ subject...
His short stories tend to be ~ on plot.
? strong
ADJ: oft ADJ on n
~ness
His only ~ness is his temperament...
N-VAR
13.
see also ~ness