debilitate

verb

de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio)
dē-
debilitated; debilitating

transitive verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gout is an inflammatory disorder in which the accumulation of uric acid crystals around a joint causes acute and often debilitating pain, mainly in the big toe. Catherine Moyer, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025 She was discharged the same day, and experienced debilitating fatigue that persisted acutely for months, forcing her to cancel a tour. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025 Changing his diet to avoid emulsifiers has made a shocking difference, easing symptoms that were debilitating, Rands said. David Hilzenrath, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025 Despite the debilitating nature of his father’s migraines, Jayo Adegboyo said his father rarely missed a soccer or basketball game or track meet. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for debilitate

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of debilitate was in 1533

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Cite this Entry

“Debilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitate. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

debilitate

verb
de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio)
debilitated; debilitating
: to reduce the strength of : weaken
debilitation noun

Medical Definition

debilitate

transitive verb
de·​bil·​i·​tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio)
debilitated; debilitating
: to impair the strength of
a body debilitated by disease
debilitation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on debilitate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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