WEE-kuhst
/ˈwikəst/
weakest is pronounced WEE-kuhst (/ˈwikəst/). Weakest is the superlative form of 'weak,' referring to the lowest degree of strength or impact within a group or set. It conveys comparison as the least strong or least effective relative to other options. In usage, it often describes performance, resilience, or intensity that is notably feeble or lacking.
Weakest is the superlative form of 'weak,' referring to the lowest degree of strength or impact within a group or set. It conveys comparison as the least strong or least effective relative to other options. In usage, it often describes performance, resilience, or intensity that is notably feeble or lacking.
"In the relay race, she was the weakest link, which cost us the win."
"The thesis presented the weakest argument of the bunch and was easily refuted."
"Among all the players, he had the weakest serve, making the game more challenging."
Pronounce as /ˈwiː.kɪst/. The primary stress is on the first syllable WEAK, with a long /iː/ vowel. The second syllable is a short /kɪ/ followed by /st/. In fluent speech, the /k/ and /s/ can blend slightly. Mouth posture: high front tongue for /iː/, brief relaxed jaw for /ɪ/. If you link from a preceding word, allow a brief, light pause before the /k/ for clarity.
Common errors include shortening the /iː/ to a quick /ɪ/ and softening the final /st/ into a /s/ or /t/ only. Another mistake is reducing /wiː/ to /wi/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable. Correct by holding the long /iː/ for the stressed syllable, clearly articulating /k/ and then a crisp /st/. Practice with slow tempo: /ˈwiː.kɪst/ to build muscle memory for the two consonant cluster at the end.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on WEAK-; the /iː/ is long. The difference shows in rhoticity and vowel quality: non-rhotic UK speakers may have a less pronounced rhotic influence, but /iː/ remains long. AU vowels tend to be broader; some speakers may exhibit a slightly shorter /iː/ due to fast speech. The /k/ and /st/ cluster remains crisp in all, but flapping in US can affect neighboring vowels slightly when adjacent to /r/ or /t/ in connected speech.
Two main challenges: the long /iː/ followed by a sharp /k/ onset into the /st/ cluster, which requires precise timing and tongue control, and the rapid transition from vowels to the consonant cluster, which can blur if you don’t separate /k/ and /st/. The final /st/ cluster demands tongue-tip contact and air release without distortion. Focus on a clean glide into /k/ and a crisp stop into /st/ with steady airflow.
Does the final /st/ in 'weakest' affect preceding vowel length? Not significantly; the primary stress is on WEAK, and the /iː/ remains long regardless of the final cluster. The /st/ is affricate-like in rapid speech but remains a clear /st/ without vowel vowel intrusion. You’ll hear a clean, brief /iː/ before the /k/; ensure you do not reduce the /iː/ to /ɪ/ even in fast speech.
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Weakest traces its roots to Old English wǣce, from wacian meaning to weaken or be sick. The comparative suffix -erst emerges through Germanic morphology to form weak + -est. The adjective weak originates from Proto-Germanic *wabaz, linked to PIE *weh- “to swell or to bend” in some historical branches, though core modern sense of lacking strength solidified in Late Old English as “not strong or not able.” By Middle English, weak expanded to describe not just physical strength but weak arguments, weak evidence, and later superlative forms like weakest to denote the lowest degree among a set. The term’s semantic expansion parallels developments in governance, warfare, and rhetoric where ranking strength or intensity becomes critical. In further iterations, “weakest” is frequently used in scientific, athletic, and social contexts to highlight susceptibility, vulnerability, or minimal efficacy within comparisons, maintaining its core sense of diminished power. First known written uses surface in late medieval texts, but the compound form gained traction with standardized English spelling in Early Modern English, aligning with broader linguistic trends that systematize regular superlative forms with -est or -est suffixes across Germanic languages.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "weakest" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "weakest" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "weakest"
-ast sounds
-sed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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