Strength vs. Weakness — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Strength is the capacity or ability to withstand or exert force, while weakness is a lack of strength, ability, or power.
Difference Between Strength and Weakness
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Strength embodies physical power, mental fortitude, and moral integrity. Weakness signifies a lack of these qualities.
Strength is often seen as a positive trait, enhancing abilities and performance. Weakness is viewed negatively, hindering effectiveness.
In individuals, strength can manifest as resilience and skill. Weakness appears as frailty or incompetency.
Strength supports growth, improvement, and achievement. Weakness can lead to stagnation and failure.
Strength is a pillar of leadership and success. Weakness may indicate vulnerability or the need for development.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Ability or power to perform or endure
Lack of strength, power, or proficiency
Perception
Generally positive, empowering
Often negative, seen as a limitation
Manifestation
Resilience, skill, fortitude
Frailty, incompetency, vulnerability
Impact
Facilitates growth and achievement
Can lead to stagnation or failure
Relation to Success
Often a foundation for success
May be a barrier or area for improvement
Compare with Definitions
Strength
The ability to exert force.
His strength allowed him to lift heavy weights easily.
Weakness
Lack of resilience or toughness of mind.
Her weakness was her inability to handle criticism.
Strength
Resilience and toughness of mind.
Her mental strength helped her overcome the challenges.
Weakness
Lack of firmness in ethical principles.
His weakness for flattery often led him astray.
Strength
Excellence in a specific area.
Her strength in mathematics earned her a scholarship.
Weakness
Absence of skill or proficiency.
His weakness in communication affected his career.
Strength
The quality or state of being physically strong
Cycling can help you build up your strength
Weakness
A quality that diminishes effectiveness.
The team's weakness was their lack of coordination.
Strength
The capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure
They were taking no chances with the strength of the retaining wall
Weakness
Weakness is a symptom of a number of different conditions. The causes are many and can be divided into conditions that have true or perceived muscle weakness.
Strength
The potency or degree of concentration of a drug, chemical, or drink
The solution comes in two strengths
It's double the strength of your average beer
Weakness
The state or condition of being weak
The country's weakness in international dealings
Strength
A good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing
The strengths and weaknesses of their sales and marketing operation
His strength was his obsessive single-mindedness
Weakness
A disadvantage or fault
You must recognize your product's strengths and weaknesses
Strength
The number of people comprising a group, typically a team or army
The peacetime strength of the army was 415,000
Weakness
A person or thing that one is unable to resist or likes excessively
You're his one weakness—he should never have met you
Strength
The state or quality of being strong; physical power or capacity
The strength needed to lift a box.
Weakness
The condition or quality of being weak.
Strength
The capacity to resist attack; impregnability
The strength of the ship's armor.
Weakness
A personal defect or failing.
Strength
The capacity to resist strain or stress; durability
The strength of the cables.
Weakness
A special fondness or inclination
Has a weakness for fast cars.
Strength
The ability to deal with difficult situations or to maintain a moral or intellectual position
Does he have the strength to overcome such a tragedy?.
Weakness
Something of which one is excessively fond or desirous
Ice cream is his weakness.
Strength
The number of people constituting a normal or ideal organization
The police force has been at half strength since the budget cuts.
Weakness
(uncountable) The condition of being weak.
In a small number of horses, muscle weakness may progress to paralysis.
Strength
Capability in terms of numbers or resources
An army of fearsome strength.
Weakness
(countable) An inadequate quality; fault
His inability to speak in front of an audience was his weakness.
Strength
An attribute or quality of particular worth or utility; an asset
Your easygoing nature is one of your strengths.
Weakness
(countable) A special fondness or desire.
She is an athlete who has a weakness for chocolate.
Strength
One that is regarded as the embodiment of protective or supportive power; a support or mainstay
Her family has been her strength in difficult times.
Weakness
The quality or state of being weak; want of strength or firmness; lack of vigor; want of resolution or of moral strength; feebleness.
Strength
Degree of concentration, distillation, or saturation
What's the strength of that cleaning solution?.
Weakness
That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution; a fault; a defect.
Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.
Strength
Operative effectiveness or potency
The strength of the drug.
Weakness
A flaw or weak point;
He was quick to point out his wife's failings
Strength
Intensity, as of sound or light
The strength of the wind.
Weakness
Powerlessness revealed by an inability to act;
In spite of their weakness the group remains highly active
Strength
Intensity of emotion or belief
The strength of feeling among the voters.
Weakness
The property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain;
His weakness increased as he became older
The weakness of the span was overlooked until it collapsed
Strength
Cogency or persuasiveness
The strength of his argument.
Weakness
The condition of being financially weak;
The weakness of the dollar against the yen
Strength
Effective or binding force; efficacy
The strength of an argument.
Weakness
A penchant for something even though it might not be good for you;
He has a weakness for chocolate
Strength
Firmness of or a continuous rising tendency in prices, as of a currency or market.
Weakness
Reduced ability to exert force.
After the injury, his weakness was evident in his limp.
Strength
(Games) Power derived from the value of playing cards held.
Strength
The quality or degree of being strong.
It requires great strength to lift heavy objects.
Strength
The intensity of a force or power; potency.
He had the strength of ten men.
Strength
The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
Strength
A positive attribute.
We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.
Strength
(obsolete) An armed force, a body of troops.
Strength
(obsolete) A strong place; a stronghold.
Strength
(obsolete) To strengthen all senses.
Strength
The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment.
All his [Samson's] strength in his hairs were.
Thou must outliveThy youth, thy strength, thy beauty.
Strength
Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; - in this sense opposed to frangibility; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like.
Strength
Power of resisting attacks; impregnability.
Strength
That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument.
Strength
One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security.
God is our refuge and strength.
What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths.
Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation.
Strength
Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea?
Strength
Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; - said of literary work.
And praise the easy vigor of a lifeWhere Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join.
Strength
Intensity; - said of light or color.
Bright Phœbus in his strength.
Strength
Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; - said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.
Strength
A strong place; a stronghold.
Strength
To strengthen.
Strength
The property of being physically or mentally strong;
Fatigue sapped his strength
Strength
Capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war;
We faced an army of great strength
Politicians have neglected our military posture
Strength
Physical energy or intensity;
He hit with all the force he could muster
It was destroyed by the strength of the gale
A government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man
Strength
An asset of special worth or utility;
Cooking is his forte
Strength
The power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty;
The strength of his argument settled the matter
Strength
The amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation);
He adjusted the intensity of the sound
They measured the station's signal strength
Strength
Capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects;
The toxin's potency
The strength of the drinks
Strength
The condition of financial success;
The strength of the company's stock in recent weeks
Strength
Permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force;
They advertised the durability of their products
Strength
Firm adherence to ethical principles.
His strength of character was admired by all.
Strength
A quality that enhances effectiveness.
The team's strength lies in their unity.
Common Curiosities
Is strength always physical?
No, strength can be mental, moral, or related to specific skills.
Can a weakness be turned into a strength?
Yes, with effort and practice, weaknesses can be improved upon.
Can strengths sometimes be weaknesses?
Yes, in some contexts, strengths can become weaknesses.
Are strengths innate or learned?
Strengths can be both innate and developed through experience.
How can one identify their strengths?
Through self-reflection, feedback, and trying new experiences.
Do strengths and weaknesses vary by context?
Yes, what is a strength in one situation may not be in another.
Can focusing too much on strengths be harmful?
Yes, overreliance on strengths can lead to neglecting other important areas.
Are weaknesses permanent?
Not necessarily; weaknesses can be mitigated or improved over time.
How can strengths be developed?
Through practice, education, and consistently challenging oneself.
Is acknowledging weakness important?
Yes, acknowledging weakness is important for personal growth.
Why is understanding weakness important?
Understanding weakness helps in personal development and overcoming limitations.
Can strengths be overused?
Yes, overusing strengths can lead to imbalances or burnout.
Are strengths and weaknesses subjective?
To some extent, they can be subjective, varying based on individual perspectives.
How can strengths be utilized effectively?
By applying them in relevant situations and using them to compensate for weaknesses.
Should weaknesses always be addressed?
Prioritizing which weaknesses to address based on goals and context is important.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
