weedy

Think of an abandoned garden: it is likely weedy. First, the word means full of weeds or covered with rough, unwanted plant growth. It can also describe a place that looks messy, neglected, or not well cared for.

The word also has a common figurative use for people. If someone is described as weedy, they are thin, weak, or not very strong. In some contexts, it can also describe something that feels weak or not convincing, such as a weedy excuse or a weedy effort. Overall, the word gives a sense of poor growth, low strength, or neglect.

The word weedy begins with a very clear picture: a garden, field, or path covered in weeds. In this literal sense, it describes a place where unwanted plants have spread freely, often because the area has been left alone for too long. A weedy patch of land looks overgrown, untidy, and poorly cared for.

From there, the meaning extends naturally to anything that seems neglected or rough in appearance. A weedy yard or roadside may not be completely filled with weeds, but it gives the same impression of uncontrolled growth and a lack of care. The word often carries a slightly negative tone because it suggests disorder rather than healthy, attractive growth.

When used about a person, weedy usually means thin, frail, or physically weak. It suggests someone who does not look strong or sturdy. For example, a child might be called weedy if they seem small and lacking in strength. This use is especially common in British English.

In a broader figurative sense, weedy can also describe something weak in quality or effect. A weedy excuse, argument, or attempt feels feeble and unconvincing rather than solid and forceful. Across these uses, the core idea stays the same: something that lacks strength, health, or proper care.