debilitate

verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt 

dē-

debilitated; debilitating

transitive verb

: to impair the strength of : enfeeble

sailors debilitated by scurvy

an economy debilitated by years of civil war

debilitation

di-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 

dē-

noun

Did you know?

Debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, and sap all share the general sense "to weaken." But while debilitate holds the distinction among these words of coming from the Latin word for "weak"—debilis—it packs a potent punch. Often used of disease or something that strikes like a disease or illness, debilitate might suggest a temporary impairment—but a pervasive one at that. Enfeeble, a very close synonym of debilitate, connotes a pitiable, but often reversible, condition of weakness and helplessness. Undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for debilitate

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 debilitate in a Sentence

The virus debilitates the body's immune system.

the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

Recent Examples on the Web

One client, a skilled worker who suffered a debilitating fall from heights, received a multi-million dollar settlement thanks to GGL's tireless efforts. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Dubai authorities issued a stay-at-home advisory for a second day, ordering employees and students to work remotely due to the debilitating storms. —The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024

Long story short, in 1982, Key West staged a faux-protest against the U.S. government for causing a debilitating traffic jam along the only road out of the Keys. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024

But if truly debilitating pain regularly sabotages sleep multiple times per week, prescription medication formulated specifically for nighttime comfort may be necessary while simultaneously identifying and addressing the root cause. —Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024

Worldwide, 12 to 15 percent of the population is impacted by this often debilitating condition. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

The victims affected have reported experiencing strange noises and sensations of pressure coming from a specific direction and later developed debilitating symptoms like vertigo, migraines and hearing and cognitive problems. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Eliminating Hamas’s leadership won’t necessarily debilitate the group, experts say, as Hamas lacks a single figurehead and there are many in line ready to take the place of those killed. —Cate Brown, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

While tinnitus can be a debilitating condition for millions of people around the world, Silencil offers affordable relief. —Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

debilitate

verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

debilitated; debilitating

: to reduce the strength of : weaken

debilitation

-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

debilitate

transitive verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

debilitated; debilitating

: to impair the strength of

a body debilitated by disease

debilitation

-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun