# weaknesses

/ˈwiknəsəz/ (US) · /wˈiːknəsɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weaknesses
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. character flaws

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- In the job interview, he talked about his weaknesses and how he tries to improve them.
- The candidate was remarkably candid about her professional weaknesses, explaining the specific strategies she had implemented to mitigate her tendency toward perfectionism.

### 2. vulnerabilities

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The team looked for weaknesses in the other side's defense during the game.
- Structural engineers identified several critical weaknesses in the bridge's support cables that required immediate intervention to prevent a collapse.

### 3. special likings

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- She has two main weaknesses: expensive shoes and dark chocolate.
- Despite his disciplined lifestyle, he confessed to having several weaknesses, most notably for rare first-edition novels and vintage fountain pens.

## Examples

- He knows his weaknesses and works hard to improve them.
- During the job interview, she discussed her professional weaknesses and how she manages them effectively.
- The report highlights several structural weaknesses in the bridge that require immediate attention before the winter season begins.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.