debilitate

verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt 

dē-

debilitated; debilitating

transitive verb

: to impair the strength of : enfeeble

sailors debilitated by scurvy

an economy debilitated by years of civil war

debilitation

di-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 

dē-

noun

Did you know?

Debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, and sap all share the general sense "to weaken." But while debilitate holds the distinction among these words of coming from the Latin word for "weak"—debilis—it packs a potent punch. Often used of disease or something that strikes like a disease or illness, debilitate might suggest a temporary impairment—but a pervasive one at that. Enfeeble, a very close synonym of debilitate, connotes a pitiable, but often reversible, condition of weakness and helplessness. Undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

Synonyms

• devitalize
• enervate
• enfeeble
• etiolate
• prostrate
• sap
• soften
• tire
• waste
• weaken

Choose the Right Synonym for debilitate

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor.

weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health

drugs had sapped his ability to think

disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

Examples of debilitate in a Sentence

The virus debilitates the body's immune system.

the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

Recent Examples on the Web

After the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October last year, Hezbollah began exchanging fire with Israel, prompting an Israeli retaliation that had the group’s top brass assassinated and significantly debilitated its capabilities. —Mostafa Salem, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024

For people with debilitating long COVID, the new year heralds a cruel anniversary: Some are experiencing their fifth year with the agonizing illness. —Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2024

Available on The Week Bookshop There's Nothing Wrong With Her Kate Weinberg, 2024 My wife has had debilitating long Covid for three years. —The Week Uk, theweek, 29 Nov. 2024

Here are some simple steps to avoid getting sick and passing on a potentially debilitating illness to others. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

debilitate

verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

debilitated; debilitating

: to reduce the strength of : weaken

debilitation

-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

debilitate

transitive verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

debilitated; debilitating

: to impair the strength of

a body debilitated by disease

debilitation

-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun