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Definitions

weak-kneed

[week-need] / ˈwikˈnid /
ADJECTIVE
cowardly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dastardly
WEAK
afraid anxious apprehensive backward base chicken-hearted cowering cowhearted craven diffident dismayed fainthearted frightened gutless having the willies jittery lacking courage lily-livered nervous no guts panicky pigeonhearted pusillanimous recreant retiring running scared scared shrinking shy soft spineless timid timorous weak worthless yellow yellow-bellied
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave courageous daring dauntless unafraid undaunted unfearful
ADJECTIVE
craven
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mean-spirited
STRONG
chicken yellow
WEAK
cowardly dastardly fearful gutless lily-livered poltroonish pusillanimous scared timorous wimpish wimpy wussy yellow-bellied
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave courageous heroic strong
ADJECTIVE
dizzy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dazed distracted dumb giddy groggy shaky wobbly woozy
STRONG
addled befuddled bemused bewildered blind blinded dazzled disturbed dumbfounded faint light muddled puzzled reeling staggered staggering swimming upset whirling
WEAK
gaga hazy off balance out of control punch-drunk punchy slap-happy tipsy unsteady vertiginous weak in the knees
Antonyms
STRONGEST
steady
STRONG
clear
WEAK
clear-headed unconfused
ADJECTIVE
docile
Synonyms
STRONGEST
easygoing gentle laid-back meek obedient pliable pliant well-behaved
WEAK
accommodating acquiescent adaptable agreeable amenable biddable childlike complacent cool docious ductile easily influenced easy governable humble manageable mellow mild obliging orderly quiet resigned soft tame teachable tractable usable willing yielding
Antonyms
WEAK
determined headstrong inflexible intractable obstinate opinionated stubborn uncooperative unyielding
ADJECTIVE
fearful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afraid agitated anxious frightened hesitant jittery nervous panicky scared shy skittish tense timid uneasy
WEAK
aflutter aghast chicken chickenhearted diffident discomposed disquieted disturbed fainthearted goose-bumpy have cold feet in a dither intimidated jumpy lily-livered mousy nerveless nervy perturbed phobic pusillanimous quivery rabbity running scared shaky sheepish shrinking solicitous spineless timorous tremulous unmanly worried yellow
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bold brave calm composed confident cool easygoing extroverted fearless happy laid-back unafraid unworried
WEAK
courageous good inapprehensive nice pleasant unfearful
ADJECTIVE
indecisive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
doubtful hesitant tentative wishy-washy
WEAK
changeable faltering halting hemming and hawing hesitating hot-and-cold inconclusive indeterminate irresolute of two minds on the fence unclear undecided undetermined uneventful unsettled unstable vacillating waffling wavering
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain definite sure
WEAK
decisive deliberate determined
ADJECTIVE
irresolute
Synonyms
WEAK
changing doubtful doubting faltering fearful fickle fluctuating halfhearted halting hesitant hesitating hot-and-cold on-the-fence tentative timid uncertain undecided undetermined unsettled unstable unsteady vacillating waffling wavering weak wimpy wishy-washy wobbly
Antonyms
WEAK
definite determined obstinate resolute stubborn unyielding willful
ADJECTIVE
meek
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deferential docile gentle passive serene subdued submissive timid unassuming
WEAK
Milquetoast acquiescent forbearing humble lenient long-suffering longanimous lowly manageable mild modest nothing orderly pabulum patient peaceful plain resigned soft spineless spiritless tame tolerant unpretentious unresisting weak wishy-washy yielding zero
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bold brave disobedient excited intractable troubled unyielding
WEAK
emboldened immodest impertinent uninhibited
ADJECTIVE
reeling
Synonyms
STRONG
addled befuddled bemused bewildered blind blinded dazed dazzled distracted disturbed dumbfounded faint light muddled puzzled staggered staggering swimming upset whirling
WEAK
dumb gaga giddy groggy hazy lightheaded off balance out of control punch-drunk punchy shaky slap-happy tipsy unsteady vertiginous weak in the knees wobbly woozy
Antonyms
STRONG
aware clear heavy understanding
ADJECTIVE
slaphappy
Synonyms
WEAK
befuddled bewildered dazzled gaga giddy groggy hazy punch-drunk punchy puzzled senile silly staggered staggering tipsy unsteady weak in the knees wobbly woozy
ADJECTIVE
spineless
Synonyms
STRONG
invertebrate
WEAK
amoebalike faint-hearted fearful feeble forceless frightened gutless impotent inadequate ineffective ineffectual irresolute lily-livered nerveless pithless soft spiritless squeamish submissive timid vacillating weak weak-willed yellow yellow-bellied
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave strong
ADJECTIVE
thin
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flat flimsy meager poor shallow skimpy sparse thick transparent
STRONG
diluted lame scant scattered slight stretched
WEAK
feeble implausible improbable inadequate inconceivable incredible insubstantial insufficient questionable scanty scarce sketchy superficial unbelievable unconvincing unpersuasive unsubstantial untenable vapid
Antonyms
STRONGEST
adequate full intelligent reasonable strong substantial sufficient
STRONG
concentrated
WEAK
dense efficient fat heavy inflated obese solid undiluted
ADJECTIVE
weak
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hesitant indecisive ineffectual insecure nervous powerless shaky soft uncertain unstable wobbly
WEAK
faint-hearted fluctuant frightened impotent infirm irresolute nerveless spineless timorous undependable unreliable unsure vacillating wavering wimpy wishy-washy zero
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave confident
ADJECTIVE
weak-minded
Synonyms
WEAK
changeable hemming and hawing hesitant hesitating indeterminate irresolute on the fence spineless tentative uncertain undecided undetermined waffling wavering wishy-washy without guts yellow-bellied
ADJECTIVE
weak-willed
Synonyms
WEAK
cowardly gutless soft spineless timid weak
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave firm strong
ADJECTIVE
wishy-washy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
indecisive
WEAK
banal characterless cowardly enervated feeble flat flavorless ineffective ineffectual insipid irresolute jejune languid listless mediocre namby-pamby sapless spiritless tasteless thin vacillating vapid watered-down watery wavering weak
Antonyms
WEAK
dynamic exciting interesting lively
ADJECTIVE
woozy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
befuddled bewildered dazed giddy groggy puzzled queasy shaky tipsy unsteady wobbly
WEAK
bemused confused dazzled dumbfounded faint gaga hazy light-headed muddled off balance punch-drunk punchy reeling seeing stars slap-happy staggered staggering weak in the knees
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain clear cognizant sober stable steady sure unshaky

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Then there are my people, weak-kneed types who, come winter, wonder whether they can survive yet another cold snap.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

ByteDance stared it down, though, and bet that U.S. policymakers would get weak-kneed if the ban were actually about to go into effect.

From Slate • Jan. 18, 2025

"I think I was weak-kneed and tongue tied, but I managed to squeak out 'Your Majesty, it's a great honour to meet you.' I will take those memories to my grave," he said.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2022

All of this may help explain the weak-kneed result, but it does not justify it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2021

“You,” Alex told herself, “are a weak-kneed, spineless jellyfish.”

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr