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
Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 6 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
Fast weakening is expected to begin on Thursday, and Lorena could weaken back to a tropical storm by Friday.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
The tariffs inadvertently advantage Asia and other offshore producers by weakening textile and apparel supply chains in the Western Hemisphere.
—Kimberly Glas, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
But shares were off to a slow start in October, like many other chemical stocks, over fears of a weakening macroeconomic environment.
—Jeff Marks,paulina Likos, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
But Priscilla is expected to begin weakening around the middle of the week.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Humberto is weakening the quasi-permanent ridge over Bermuda and opening up a path to pull Imelda behind it.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2025
And, in the process, weakening the ability of American tech companies, many of them based in California, to achieve their goals.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
By Tuesday, Imelda could briefly strengthen into a hurricane before weakening back to a tropical storm ahead of landfall in South Carolina.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report.
—Jason Schenker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
Hurricane center forecasters said additional strengthening is expected before weakening begins by the middle of this week.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 6 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
Fast weakening is expected to begin on Thursday, and Lorena could weaken back to a tropical storm by Friday.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
The tariffs inadvertently advantage Asia and other offshore producers by weakening textile and apparel supply chains in the Western Hemisphere.
—Kimberly Glas, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
But shares were off to a slow start in October, like many other chemical stocks, over fears of a weakening macroeconomic environment.
—Jeff Marks,paulina Likos, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
But Priscilla is expected to begin weakening around the middle of the week.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Humberto is weakening the quasi-permanent ridge over Bermuda and opening up a path to pull Imelda behind it.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2025
And, in the process, weakening the ability of American tech companies, many of them based in California, to achieve their goals.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
By Tuesday, Imelda could briefly strengthen into a hurricane before weakening back to a tropical storm ahead of landfall in South Carolina.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report.
—Jason Schenker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
Noun
-
Americans have this year grappled with elevated inflation, as well as a deterioration of the job market and a broader weakening of the nation’s economic outlook.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The median age of survival since 1970 is 29 years and, while there is no cure and physical deterioration is inevitable, advancements in care have lengthened life expectancy.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nozawa approached the decor with the goal of softening the architecture's hard lines and surfaces, while channeling the color palette of the building materials.—
Monika Biegler Eyers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Speaking in New York, the central bank policymaker noted risks to both higher inflation and a softening labor market that are keeping officials on their toes.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Exterior signs are fading and machinery has been left around the site.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
While pie crust seems to be fading away, some chefs would rather think completely outside the box by creating a completely different crust.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Cleaver's Fifth District, which encompasses much of Kansas City, will be split across three different districts, diluting Democratic voting strength by incorporating Republican-leaning rural areas.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 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
-
Denim has long been branded one of the most climate-adverse, chemical-heavy, water-wasting fabrics to mill and manufacture.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Talk about wasting our valuable resource.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Much of the composition is given to the trio of commissioners who, tasked with investigating charges of bias in the trial, upheld the verdict—their faces sagging and stony, their staid officiousness echoing the resolute lines of the courthouse behind them.—
Nicole Rudick,
The New York Review of Books,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The budget negotiations mark the latest step in the city’s financial crisis, which was caused in large part by sagging sales tax revenue and growing expenses.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That thinning prospect pool means there are fewer forwards to pull from, too.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As with most health concerns in menopause, hormones play a role in why your hair may be thinning during this phase of life.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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