disadvantage _noun 

ADJECTIVES

big, great, major
・This method has one major disadvantage: its cost.

main
・The main disadvantage of iron as a material is its weight.

serious, severe
・Public transport is very bad here, which is a serious disadvantage.

significant
・This approach does have a number of significant disadvantages.

slight, minor
・Children who are young in their school year sometimes have a slight disadvantage.

further, additional, added
・It’s a very small garden and it has the further disadvantage of facing north.

unfair
・This arrangement would put the UK citizen at an unfair disadvantage.

social, economic, educational
・Unemployment often leads to social disadvantage.

competitive 
・Firms that are not part of the group would be at a competitive disadvantage.

VERBS

have
・Cars have many disadvantages and they cause a lot of pollution.

suffer (from)
・Working-class boys suffer disadvantages in the educational system.

overcome 
・She was able to overcome the disadvantages of poverty.

PREPOSITIONS

of
・This medicine has the disadvantage of working slowly.

to
・There are some disadvantages to the plan.

PHRASES

sb/sth is at a disadvantage 
・The company was at a disadvantage compared with its competitors.

put/place sb at a disadvantage
・Not speaking English might put you at a disadvantage.

be/work to the disadvantage of sb 
・This system works to the disadvantage of women.

advantages and disadvantages
・Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
・The advantages of building the new road would outweigh the disadvantages.