weaken

verb

weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening
ˈwēk-niŋ,
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
; weakens

transitive verb

1
: to make weak : lessen the strength of
2
: to reduce in intensity or effectiveness

intransitive verb

: to become weak
weakener
ˈwēk-nər
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for weaken

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 weaken in a Sentence

The disease weakens the immune system. Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy. The beams had been weakened by water damage. efforts to weaken environmental laws The recent setbacks have not weakened our resolve. These kinds of contradictions weaken your argument. The disease causes the immune system to weaken. The dollar has continued to weaken against the euro. Lower interest rates have weakened the dollar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This weakens their ability to educate, create, and grow. Miguel Cardona, Time, 21 July 2025 This could help verify recent findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggest this strange force is actually weakening over time. Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025 Since then, the group has been severely weakened, losing its once-dominant influence in Lebanon and facing growing internal and Western demands to disarm, as its fighters are targeted by near-daily Israeli strikes. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 July 2025 Beyond three cups, however, no additional reductions were observed, and the benefits for cardiovascular disease mortality weakened when more than three cups were consumed. Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for weaken

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of weaken was circa 1529

Cite this Entry

“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaken. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

weaken

verb
weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening ˈwēk-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce weaken (audio)
: to make or become weak or weaker

More from Merriam-Webster on weaken

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