What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
frail
Example
The old woman was too frail to carry her groceries. [frail: adjective]
Example
The vase was so frail that it broke when I touched it. [frail: adjective]
Example
The child's frail emotions were easily hurt by criticism. [frail: adjective]
weak
Example
He felt weak after running the marathon. [weak: adjective]
Example
The bridge was weak and couldn't support heavy traffic. [weak: adjective]
Example
She had a weak argument and couldn't convince anyone. [weak: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weak is more commonly used than frail in everyday language. Weak is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while frail is less common and more specific to describing physical or emotional vulnerability.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between frail and weak?
Both frail and weak can be used in formal and informal contexts, but frail may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage and specific connotation.