debilitate

verb

de·bil·i·tate | \ di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt

How to pronounce debilitate (audio)

, dē- \

debilitated; debilitating

Definition of debilitate

transitive verb

: to impair the strength of : enfeeble sailors debilitated by scurvy an economy debilitated by years of civil war

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Choose the Right Synonym for debilitate

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, cripple, 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 cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element. crippled by arthritis 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 Prodigious force is required to propel the 245-pound Texas senior skyward, and that sort of strain and joint load can debilitate over time. — Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, "Texas hopes F Jericho Sims will soar in his senior season," 13 Nov. 2020 Seizing the moment to debilitate Hezbollah would be a huge step forward for maximum pressure. — Carine Hajjar, National Review, "Now Is the Time to Force Hezbollah out of Lebanon," 22 Aug. 2020 The year after having my daughter, debilitating anxiety came out of the blue. — Health.com, "This Woman Was Bitten by a Tick in 2007—and She's Still Dealing With Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms," 28 May 2020 If Kim were to be debilitated, the biggest immediate question mark surrounds succession. — Iain Marlow, Bloomberg.com, "Nobody’s Expecting North Korea to Implode Without Kim Jong Un," 10 May 2020 Neurology nurses and physician assistants learned to give care beyond their training, tending to people debilitated by a disease still not fully understood. — Sarah Feldberg, SFChronicle.com, "‘An honor and a privilege’: UCSF doctor reflects on month in NY at the heart of the coronavirus pandemic," 14 May 2020 Marisol was raised by a single mother, an immigrant from the Philippines who cleaned hotel rooms until she was debilitated by lupus. — New York Times, "Despite the Pandemic, My College Is Allowing Grades. Isn’t That Unfair?," 12 May 2020 Bloom’s affinity began at age 12, when Falstaff rescued him from ‘‘debilitating self-consciousness,’’ and he more than lived up to his hero’s oversized aura in person. — BostonGlobe.com, "NEW YORK — Harold Bloom, the eminent critic and Yale professor whose seminal ‘‘The Anxiety of Influence’’ and melancholy regard for literature’s old masters made him a popular author and standard-bearer of Western civilization amid modern trends, died Monday at age 89.," 16 Oct. 2019 Larger stones that are causing debilitating pain and/or blocking your urinary tract might need more intensive treatment, according to the NIDDK. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "7 Signs & Symptoms of Kidney Stones You Need to Know," 12 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'debilitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Debilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for debilitate

debilitate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of debilitate

formal + technical : to make (someone or something) weak : to reduce the strength of (someone or something)

See the full definition for debilitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

debilitate

verb

de·bil·i·tate | \ di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt

\

debilitated; debilitating

Kids Definition of debilitate

: to make feeble : weaken a debilitating disease

debilitate

transitive verb

de·bil·i·tate | \ di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt

\

debilitated; debilitating

Medical Definition of debilitate

: to impair the strength of a body debilitated by disease

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