How Do You Spell WEAKEST?

Pronunciation: [wˈiːkəst] (IPA)

The word "weakest" is spelled with the three letters "ea" despite the fact that it is pronounced as "ee". This is due to the irregular nature of the English language, where many common words are spelled in an irregular way. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "weakest" is written as /ˈwikɪst/ to represent its pronunciation accurately. Despite its irregular spelling, "weakest" is an important word to know, as it is commonly used in everyday conversation and writing.

WEAKEST Meaning and Definition

1. The adjective "weakest" refers to the superlative form of the adjective "weak," describing something or someone that possesses the least strength or power among a group or set of alternatives. It implies a level of fragility, feebleness, or lack of physical or mental vigor. When something or someone is considered the "weakest," it typically suggests a limited ability to withstand pressure, resistance, or force.

   In the context of physical strength, weakest refers to the lack of muscular power or force, often indicating a decreased capacity to exert or endure physical strain. It can also imply a lack of resilience, making it susceptible to damage or failure. Similarly, when used metaphorically, one might describe an idea, argument, or theory as the weakest if it lacks credibility, logical coherence, or persuasive evidence, rendering it more vulnerable to criticism or doubt.

   Furthermore, weakest can also signify emotional or psychological frailty, indicating a lack of emotional resilience or fortitude. A person may be considered the weakest if they are unable to cope with stress or adversity, displaying vulnerability and susceptibility to emotional distress. In competitive contexts, the weakest refers to the lowest-ranking or least talented participant amongst others, a position associated with inferiority or subpar performance. Overall, this term represents the least empowered, least influential, or least capable constituent within a particular situation or comparison.

Top Common Misspellings for WEAKEST *

• weekest 68%
• weakess 12%
• wekest 8%
• weakeat 8%
• weaks 4%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for WEAKEST

• weakeis
• weathest
• weekent
• weakers
• weardest
• weaknest
• makest
• wearst
• wickest
• wetest
• weakes
• weakiest
• weakass
• wekes
• weekes
• takest
• weaked
• weekist
• wamest
• wealest
• peakist
• reckest
• sheakest
• weakliest
• whanest
• weakspt
• meakeest
• meakst
• wreakese
• Reakedst
• woarest
• wurkest
• wenkes

Etymology of WEAKEST

The word "weakest" is derived from the Old English word "wǣcesta", which is the superlative form of the adjective "wǣc", meaning "weak". In Old English, the suffix "-est" was added to adjectives to indicate the superlative degree, expressing the highest level or extreme quality of something. Over time, through various shifts in pronunciation and spelling, "wǣcesta" evolved into the modern English word "weakest", retaining its original meaning.

Idioms with the word WEAKEST

• chain is no stronger than its weakest link The idiom "a chain is no stronger than its weakest link" means that the overall strength or effectiveness of a group or system is limited by its weakest or most vulnerable part. It implies that the success or functionality of a whole is dependent on the performance or reliability of its individual components. If even one part is weak or deficient, it can undermine or compromise the entire system.
• a chain is only as strong as its weakest link The idiom "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" means that the overall strength or effectiveness of a system or group is limited by its weakest or most vulnerable component or member. This implies that no matter how strong or well-functioning the majority of the elements are, the weakest one can undermine the entire system.
• a chain is no stronger than its weakest link The idiom "a chain is no stronger than its weakest link" means that the overall strength or effectiveness of a group, team, or system is determined by its weakest or least capable member. If one component or individual is unable to perform well or meet the required standards, it can undermine the entire operation or cause failure.