Definition of enervate
: lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor : enervated
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
enervate was our Word of the Day on 07/03/2011. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
First Known Use of enervate
1603
Definition of enervate
enervated;
enervating
1
: to reduce the mental or moral vigor of
2
: to lessen the vitality or strength of
Examples of enervate in a Sentence
a lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul
the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards
Recent Examples of enervate from the Web
-
Most of the Africans dotted across the asphalt in tents or sprawled on mattresses in the enervating heat of a Roman summer have no permission to be there either.
-
Capitalism enriches a society but also risks enervating the senses and the spirit by shrinking human aspirations into material acquisitiveness.
-
Modern America, with its enervating comforts — including cosseting parents — and present-minded education that produces cultural amnesia, must deliberately make its citizens.
-
But, as the activism increased, the classroom discussions occasionally seemed enervated, the participants vaguely distracted.
-
These and other incidents in a long and enervating season have prompted Bradshaw to step up efforts to deal with tanking.
-
Seemingly immune to political norms, his brassy courting of scandal is frustrating attempts to effectively govern, enervating progress on health care and tax reform.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enervate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of enervate
enervate Synonyms
Synonyms
castrate, damp, dampen, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, lobotomize, petrify;
Near Antonyms
excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up);
abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift;
Related Words
burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out;
Synonym Discussion of enervate
unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action. unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.
-
- unnerved by the near collision
-
- a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure
-
- a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle
-
- an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards
ENERVATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of enervate for English Language Learners
-
: to make (someone or something) very weak or tired
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of enervate
enervated;
enervating
1
obsolete
: to cut the nerves or tendons of
2
: to lessen the vitality or strength of
- heat enervates people
Learn More about enervate
-
See words that rhyme with enervate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enervate Spanish Central: Translation of enervate Nglish: Translation of enervate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enervate for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up enervate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
