What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
debility
Example
The patient's debility made it difficult for him to walk without assistance. [debility: noun]
Example
After the surgery, she experienced a period of debility and needed time to recover. [debility: noun]
weakness
Example
His weakness for sweets led him to eat an entire cake. [weakness: noun]
Example
The athlete's injury caused weakness in his leg muscles. [weakness: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weakness is more commonly used than debility in everyday language. Weakness is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while debility is less common and has a more formal connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between debility and weakness?
Debility is typically associated with a clinical and formal tone, while weakness can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
