Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [week nee]
- /wik ni/
- /wiːk niː/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [week nee]
- /wik ni/
Definitions of weak-kneed word
- adjective weak-kneed yielding readily to opposition, pressure, intimidation, etc. 1
- adjective weak-kneed giving in easily to pressure 1
- adjective weak-kneed If you describe someone as weak-kneed, you mean that they are unable or unwilling to do anything because they are influenced by a strong emotion such as fear. 0
- adjective weak-kneed yielding readily to force, persuasion, intimidation, etc 0
- adjective weak-kneed having weak knees 0
- adjective weak-kneed lacking in courage, determination, resistance, etc. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of weak-kneed
First appearance:
before 1860 One of the 29% newest English words
First recorded in 1860-65
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Weak-kneed
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
weak-kneed popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 37% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 53% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
Synonyms for weak-kneed
adj weak-kneed
- aflutter — in or into a nervous or excited state
- astraddle — with a leg on either side of something
- blinded — unable to see; lacking the sense of sight; sightless: a blind man.
- characterless — If you describe something as characterless, you mean that it is dull and uninteresting.
- chicken-hearted — easily frightened; cowardly
adjective weak-kneed
- amoebalike — Having the characteristics of an amoeba.
- caitiff — a cowardly or base person
- cowering — to crouch, as in fear or shame.
- cowhearted — cowardly.
- dazzled — to overpower or dim the vision of by intense light: He was dazzled by the sudden sunlight.
Antonyms for weak-kneed
adjective weak-kneed
- emboldened — Having been made bold.
- inapprehensive — not apprehensive (often followed by of).
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with w
- Words starting with we
- Words starting with wea
- Words starting with weak
- Words starting with weakk
- Words starting with weakkn
- Words starting with weakkne
- Words starting with weakknee
- Words starting with weakkneed