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REFERENCE

weaknesses

n.
US //ˈwiknəsəz// UK //wˈiːknəsɪz// weak·ness·es
  1. 1 character flaws (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the parts of your personality that are not strong or that you find difficult to control.

    specific character flaws or personal traits that prevent a person from being fully effective or resilient.

    Example

    In the job interview, he talked about his weaknesses and how he tries to improve them.

    Example

    The candidate was remarkably candid about her professional weaknesses, explaining the specific strategies she had implemented to mitigate her tendency toward perfectionism.
  2. 2 vulnerabilities (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the parts of a plan, a building, or an argument that are easy to attack or break.

    identifiable vulnerabilities or points of failure within a physical structure, logical argument, or systematic process.

    Example

    The team looked for weaknesses in the other side's defense during the game.

    Example

    Structural engineers identified several critical weaknesses in the bridge's support cables that required immediate intervention to prevent a collapse.
  3. 3 special likings (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    things that you like so much that you find it hard to say no to them.

    particular habits or objects of desire that an individual finds difficult to resist. Often used with the preposition 'for'.

    Example

    She has two main weaknesses: expensive shoes and dark chocolate.

    Example

    Despite his disciplined lifestyle, he confessed to having several weaknesses, most notably for rare first-edition novels and vintage fountain pens.

Last updated June 20, 2026