as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the all-too-apparent weakening of our grandfather was hard on our mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in softening
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fading
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 diluting
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
as in draining
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakening
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
While most of the central bank’s policymakers still see inflation as a bigger threat than the jobs market — whose weakening may be more driven by slower immigration than corporate gloominess — there’s little consensus on the path forward, according to the September minutes released Wednesday.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Forecasters said that while additional weakening is expected during the next 48 hours, a tropical storm watch is in effect for Baja California Sur from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
The meeting comes as the central bank is in a bit of a bind, given the recent uptick in inflation that has coincided with a weakening of the job market.
—Zev Fima,jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Inflammation can cause vascular disease — the narrowing, weakening or even blockage of blood vessels — that can damage organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and of course the brain.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
While rising inflation generally compels the Fed to leave interest rates elevated, the recent weakening in the job market is outweighing that concern.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
However, hydrogen comes with problems in weakening metals, causing unexpected cracks and failures.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent economic data has suggested a weakening labor market and inflation up a touch, but not so much as to crack the stock market.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, there have been mounting signs of a weakening labor market.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
For the Amazon rain forest and the North Atlantic, some cite a lack of evidence to declare the forest is collapsing or currents are weakening.
—Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
It’s aimed at weakening our collective, across-the-board sense of boundaries, the mutual adherence to limits that sports are supposed to teach.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Adding new cash via more lending would have imposed further strain on costs, potentially weakening shareholders’ hands in any future sale negotiations.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Raymond has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and with higher gusts, and little change in strength is expected through Friday followed by a weakening trend over the weekend.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Previously the billionaire banker has warned the American economy is weakening, saying in September following a measly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that whether that weakness spills into economic contraction remains to be seen.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Despite its weakening power, heavy rain associated with the storm has already stretched as far north as the Desert Southwest.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
While most of the central bank’s policymakers still see inflation as a bigger threat than the jobs market — whose weakening may be more driven by slower immigration than corporate gloominess — there’s little consensus on the path forward, according to the September minutes released Wednesday.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Forecasters said that while additional weakening is expected during the next 48 hours, a tropical storm watch is in effect for Baja California Sur from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
The meeting comes as the central bank is in a bit of a bind, given the recent uptick in inflation that has coincided with a weakening of the job market.
—Zev Fima,jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Inflammation can cause vascular disease — the narrowing, weakening or even blockage of blood vessels — that can damage organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and of course the brain.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
While rising inflation generally compels the Fed to leave interest rates elevated, the recent weakening in the job market is outweighing that concern.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
However, hydrogen comes with problems in weakening metals, causing unexpected cracks and failures.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
By suddenly disclosing its true holdings, China could drive up gold prices while signaling stronger backing for the renminbi, thus weakening the dollar’s global clout.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent economic data has suggested a weakening labor market and inflation up a touch, but not so much as to crack the stock market.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, there have been mounting signs of a weakening labor market.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
For the Amazon rain forest and the North Atlantic, some cite a lack of evidence to declare the forest is collapsing or currents are weakening.
—Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
It’s aimed at weakening our collective, across-the-board sense of boundaries, the mutual adherence to limits that sports are supposed to teach.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Adding new cash via more lending would have imposed further strain on costs, potentially weakening shareholders’ hands in any future sale negotiations.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Raymond has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and with higher gusts, and little change in strength is expected through Friday followed by a weakening trend over the weekend.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Previously the billionaire banker has warned the American economy is weakening, saying in September following a measly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that whether that weakness spills into economic contraction remains to be seen.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
Noun
-
Whitney Portal will observe sharp deterioration in conditions with extreme danger to hikers and campers unprepared for the winter weather.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Casualties among Gaza’s police force during the two-year conflict have contributed to a deterioration in security, with looting of aid becoming commonplace.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Persistent challenges, such as elevated input costs and softening demand from key markets like China, have pressured margins across the industry.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In its most recent statement, the Federal Reserve warned of stagflation, with the economy slowing, job gains softening, unemployment creeping higher, and inflation staying elevated.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fading crowd audio under Magic Johnson’s speechless.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Because of it, their once-fading playoff chances suddenly look like a sure thing.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Section Two of the act tries to prevent legislative map drawers from diluting the votes of minorities by either packing them into one district or spreading them out among too many districts to have an impact.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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The 2024 European Parliament elections strengthened far-right blocs and pushed the centre-right toward diluting elements of the Green Deal, reframing climate rules as sovereignty or competitiveness threats and amplifying cost-of-living and farmer-protest narratives.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As early as 2014, scientists had discovered signs of sea star wasting disease in at least twenty species across the Pacific coast.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Recovering and processing that gas, instead of wasting it, could ease Iraq's chronic power shortages.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Representing Super has taken on a tough job, reviving a sagging brand while activist investors send spitballs in from the outside and competitors look to take share.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Protests about immigration and sagging ticket sales were among the reasons cited for the move, according to sources.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
People taking blood-thinning medications should exercise caution when consuming large amounts of ginger juice (or when combined with carrot juice).—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Around the house or farm, the USDA says habitat modifications can help prevent ticks, including mowing the grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees and placing mulch barriers.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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