as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
management is too weak-kneed to effectively enforce even a minimal dress code
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Recent Examples of weak-kneed
The steadfast pushback against the administration might appear on the surface to be an encouraging trend, given the complaisance of the Republican majorities in Congress and weak-kneed capitulation to Trump by leaders of institutions such as universities and major corporations.
—
Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Being healthy was culturally coded as being a weak-kneed liberal elite.
—Matt Lewis, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Despite the bleak picture painted by Democrats and weak-kneed RINOs that Trump wanted poor people to just die and be done with it, there were reasonable explanations for all the budget changes that had nothing to do with genocide.
—Frank Miele, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
And that’s been a problem — well, at least for discerning, weak-kneed cosmopolitan viewers like me.
—Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
Thankfully, the City Council, not our weak-kneed mayor, has the last say.
—Peter L. Markowitz, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Someone who, when in command, commands — and isn’t a weak-kneed politician.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
Her yes left her weak-kneed in a more swoony kind of way.
—Tammy Lagorce, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Sadly, Pope Paul VI, who succeeded John XIII, was weak-kneed, while John Paul II and Benedict XVI were conservative revanchists.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Being healthy was culturally coded as being a weak-kneed liberal elite.
—Matt Lewis, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Despite the bleak picture painted by Democrats and weak-kneed RINOs that Trump wanted poor people to just die and be done with it, there were reasonable explanations for all the budget changes that had nothing to do with genocide.
—Frank Miele, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
And that’s been a problem — well, at least for discerning, weak-kneed cosmopolitan viewers like me.
—Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
Thankfully, the City Council, not our weak-kneed mayor, has the last say.
—Peter L. Markowitz, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Someone who, when in command, commands — and isn’t a weak-kneed politician.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
Her yes left her weak-kneed in a more swoony kind of way.
—Tammy Lagorce, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Sadly, Pope Paul VI, who succeeded John XIII, was weak-kneed, while John Paul II and Benedict XVI were conservative revanchists.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak-kneed
Adjective
-
The slide appears to have involved a thick slab of soft snow breaking loose at a weak layer in the snowpack, the report said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Endowed not only with a privileged birthright but—unlike the actual princes over in England, who had weak chins and went bald young—the physical stature to match?—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These categories include young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Niacin was also found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The slide appears to have involved a thick slab of soft snow breaking loose at a weak layer in the snowpack, the report said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Sleeping positions and firmness Beyond mattress type, your preferred sleep position and mattress firmness (how hard or soft a bed feels) are other important factors to consider when buying a mattress.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weak-kneed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak-kneed. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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