B2adverbhealthemotions
US/ˈwiːk.li/
UK/ˈwiːk.li/
in a way that has little strength, energy or force
In context
The patient smiled weakly when the doctor came into the room.
'I'm fine,' she said weakly, but her face was very pale.
The two ideas are only weakly connected, so the essay feels confusing.
Words that go with weakly
verb + adverb
- smile weaklyHe smiled weakly and tried to sit up in bed.
- say weakly'Sorry,' he said weakly, looking at the floor.
- laugh weaklyShe laughed weakly at my joke, still feeling sick.
- nod weaklyGrandma nodded weakly when we asked if she was hungry.
- protest weakly'But I'm not tired,' the little boy protested weakly.
adverb + adjective
- weakly correlatedIn this study, income and happiness were only weakly correlated.