Weakness

Weakness

 Definition(s):

Defect or characteristic that may lead to undesirable behavior.

 Source: NIST NIST SP 800-160v1r1 from ISO/SAE 21434:2021

(As used in this volume) Poor coding practices, as exemplified by CWEs

 Source: NIST NISTIR 8011 Vol. 4

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
weakness (noun)
1.
the quality or state of being weak , also an instance or period of being weak - backed down in a moment of weakness
2.
- fault defect
3.
a) a special desire or fondness - has a weakness for sweets
b) an object of special desire or fondness - pizza is my weakness
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
weakness (noun)
1.
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
SYNONYMS:
asthenia, debilitation, debility, delicacy, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, wimpiness
RELATED WORDS:
decay, decrepitude; breakdown, collapse, prostration; exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness; defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness; effeteness, softness, tenderness; disablement, incapacitation, invalidism; damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injury
NEAR ANTONYMS:
energy, vitality; brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility; hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness; health, healthiness, soundness, wellness
hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor
weakness (noun)
2.
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character
SYNONYMS:
frailness, frailty, softness, spinelessness, wimpiness, wimpishness, wishy-washiness
RELATED WORDS:
collapse; failing, flaw, foible, peccadillo; evil, immorality, wickedness; corruption, corruptness
NEAR ANTONYMS:
discipline, self-discipline; goodness, integrity, morality, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtuousness
backbone, chutzpah ( chutzpa hutzpah hutzpa), firmness, fortitude, hardihood, mettle, moxie, nerve, resoluteness, strength, toughness
weakness (noun)
3.
a defect in character
SYNONYMS:
demerit, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness
RELATED WORDS:
blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness
NEAR ANTONYMS:
excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness
merit, virtue
weakness (noun)
4.
the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent
SYNONYMS:
defenselessness, vulnerability, weakness
RELATED WORDS:
helplessness, powerlessness; passiveness, passivity; feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity; exposure, liability, openness, predisposition, proneness, sensitivity; receptiveness, receptivity; easiness, gullibility, naïveté ( naivete naiveté); credulity, credulousness
NEAR ANTONYMS:
immunity; impenetrability, indomitability, indomitableness, invincibility
invulnerability
Weakness is a lack of strength or power, either physical or mental, or an area of vulnerability.