1
as in softens
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dilutes
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
weakened the juice with too much water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakens
Any delay in release weakens hatchlings and affects their survival rates.
—
M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.
—Jonathan Low, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Other issues that arise are that the pelvic floor also weakens with age.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
The westward movement is expected to continue as the storm weakens, avoiding a direct hit to Hawaii.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the longer term, forecasters will watch whether the vortex remains stable or weakens later this fall.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Bottom line—moving Space Command headquarters weakens our national security at the worst possible time.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
Voting rights groups filed a lawsuit this week ahead of Abbott’s signing the bill, saying the new map weakens the electoral influence of Black voters.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Drinking alcohol also weakens collagen and elastin (the stuff that keeps skin bouncy and firm) and can contribute to volume loss and broken capillaries—the tiny red veins that pop up around the nose and cheeks.
—Donna Francis, Allure, 25 Aug. 2025
M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.
—Jonathan Low, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Other issues that arise are that the pelvic floor also weakens with age.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
The westward movement is expected to continue as the storm weakens, avoiding a direct hit to Hawaii.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the longer term, forecasters will watch whether the vortex remains stable or weakens later this fall.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Bottom line—moving Space Command headquarters weakens our national security at the worst possible time.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
Voting rights groups filed a lawsuit this week ahead of Abbott’s signing the bill, saying the new map weakens the electoral influence of Black voters.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Drinking alcohol also weakens collagen and elastin (the stuff that keeps skin bouncy and firm) and can contribute to volume loss and broken capillaries—the tiny red veins that pop up around the nose and cheeks.
—Donna Francis, Allure, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
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White rum lays down a clean, spirited base, while the richness of maple syrup lends a silky depth that softens the citrus bite of fresh lemon juice.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
When the material is loaded up with pain killers and/or anti-inflammatory drugs, they would be released as the hydrogel softens, interrupting the pain pathway and bringing relief to patients.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the afterglow of the midyear continental tournaments fades back into seasonal play in global women’s soccer, there’s been a trend of superlative record-breaking, from the youngest professional goal scorers to the most lucrative transfer fees.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
If an online trend fades or followers are lost, the name tends to lose steam as well.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chasing broad keywords dilutes value.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Listeria infects about 1,600 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC, and kills about 260.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Screwworm is actually a fly that gets its name from how its larva infects a host.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And really, if Young fails, Canales fails, too.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Alternatively, a star being ripped apart in TDE could produce a day-long GRB, but this scenario fails to replicate other properties of the GRB 250702B, an explosion that would require a very unusual star being destroyed by an even stranger black hole.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Rack railways climb toward Mürren and Wengen, where the air thins and the views sharpen—Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau etched against cobalt sky.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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Non-coffee drinkers can opt for the blueberry matcha latte, which goes beautifully with one of the oversized blueberry muffins.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Farmers overapplying them in their fields can cause nitrogen-laden runoff that pollutes water and the air.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
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Moreover, the use of harsh chemicals pollutes water and soil during lithium extraction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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