Dictionary

weakling en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈwiːklɪŋɡ/
• /ˈwiːkˈlɪŋɡ/

Etymology

From weak + -ling.

Meanings

1. weak, either physically, morally or mentally

Translations (16)

bg хилав (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · es fuñingue (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · sv vek (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · es enclenque (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · es pusilánime (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · ru хи́лый (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · he חֲלַשְׁלוּשׁ (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · pt fracote (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · bg слаб (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · kmr belingaz (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · kmr perîşan (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · mi tīmohea (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · mi rōrā (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · ru сла́бый (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · kmr jar (weak, either physically, morally or mentally) · kmr hejar (weak, either physically, morally or mentally)

weakling en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈwiːklɪŋɡ/
• /ˈwiːkˈlɪŋɡ/

Etymology

From weak + -ling.

Meanings

1. A person of weak or even sickly physical constitution.
   • “Mon Dieu!” he soliloquized, “but they are all alike. Cheating, murdering, lying, fighting, and all for things that the beasts of the jungle would not deign to possess—money to purchase the effeminate pleasures of weaklings. And yet withal bound down by silly customs that make them slaves to their unhappy lot while firm in the belief that they be the lords of creation enjoying the only real pleasures of existence. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 17:
2. (figuratively) A person of weak character, lacking in courage and/or moral strength.
   • c.1551, Hugh Latimer, a sermon in Lincolnshire We may not be weaklings because we have a strong enemy.
   • Donald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters, calling them gullible “weaklings” for questioning the transparency of a secretive government inquiry into the late high-profile socialite and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 2025 July 17, Oliver Holmes, “Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2025:

Forms

Antonyms

strongling

Synonyms

twerk (person of weak constitution) · weenie · twerp (person of weak constitution) · pushover · sissy

Translations (70)

nb svekling (person of weak character) · it femminuccia (person of weak character) · it fifone (person of weak character) · da svækling (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · it vigliacco (person of weak character) · fi ketale (person of weak character) · gsw Abziehbildle (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · kmr belingaz (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · ru слаба́к (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · lb Feigling (person of weak character) · ru слаба́к (person of weak character) · de Schwächling (person of weak character) · fi kutale (person of weak character) · kmr perîşan (person of weak character) · de Schwächling (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · mk сла́бак (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · bg малодушен човек (person of weak character) · pt fracote (person of weak character) · de Weichei (person of weak character) · sv ynkling (person of weak character) · fi rääpäle (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · ca nyicris (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · eo malfortulo (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · mk ли́гуш (person of weak character) · fi surkimus (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · sv ynkling (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · es pusilánime (person of weak character) · kmr jar (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · sv sillmjölke (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · fr gringalet (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · pl słabeusz (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · it pollo (person of weak character) · cy swbach (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · it coniglio (person of weak character) · it merlo (person of weak character) · sa दुर्बल (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · es enclenque (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · bg слабак (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · nl zwakkeling (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · kmr hejar (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · fi surkimus (person of weak character) · ja 弱虫 (person of weak character) · ca nyicris (person of weak character) · kmr hejar (person of weak character) · fr poule mouillée (person of weak character) · cy llipryn (person of weak character) · it codardo (person of weak character) · kmr reben (person of weak character) · pl mięczak (person of weak character) · mi tīmohea (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · kmr perîşan (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · kmr şepirze (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · cs slaboch (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · kmr jar (person of weak character) · kmr belingaz (person of weak character) · ga meatachán (person of weak character) · it smidollato (person of weak character) · de Feigling (person of weak character) · it rammollito (person of weak character) · ru хлю́пик (person of weak character) · pt fracote (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · it pappamolle (person of weak character) · mi rōrā (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · ru тря́пка (person of weak character) · pl słabeusz (person of weak character) · fr chiffe molle (person of weak character) · sv vekling (person of weak or even sickly physical constitution) · it mollusco (person of weak character) · mk сла́бак (person of weak character) · cmn 懦夫 (person of weak character)