I have this gut feeling that 'outgrow' can be used here, but the definitions seem to be completely different.
"Growing up without a father has affected many aspects of my life, but I later learnt how to outgrow my weak points. "
"Growing up without a father has affected many aspects of my life, but I later learnt how to overcome my weak points. "
Thanks.
Best Answer
Outgrow and overcome have slightly different meanings, with overcome suggesting more effort and outgrow natural change with greater maturity. Hence overcoming something is more impressive than outgrowing something.
outgrow suggests something that's a more or less natural change as you get older, either literally growing too big, like clothes, or metaphorically, like outgrowing the need for nappies or youthful rebellion. Merriam-Webster gives as one definition "to grow too large or too mature for". This is supported by two quotations, one literal "outgrew his best suit" and the other "the need to outgrow the habit of war" (referring to growing out of a habit).
In contrast overcome suggests more of a deliberate effort to defeat something.