weaken

verb

weak·​en ˈwē-kən 

weakened; weakening

ˈwēk-niŋ,

ˈwē-kə-  ; 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- 

noun

Synonyms

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

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

An easy monetary policy typically weakens a country’s currency, making exports cheaper and potentially supports growth in the face of tariffs. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024

This rare condition occurs when the ligaments holding the lower ribs in place weaken, allowing the ribs to move out of position and causing pain. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 22 Dec. 2024

Following the election of Donald Trump, a range of key currencies have weakened noticeably – the yen, Brazil’s real, the Indian rupee, renminbi and the euro. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

At first blush, the loss of a superstar player of Soto’s caliber severely weakened the Yankees while, at the same time, pundits proclaimed the Mets to now be in the same class as the National League’s elite teams: the Dodgers, Braves and Phillies. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

weaken

verb

weak·​en ˈwē-kən 

weakened; weakening ˈwēk-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become weak or weaker