Definition of enervate
:lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor :enervated
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First Known Use of enervate
1603
Definition of enervate
enervated;
enervating
transitive verb
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
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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.
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Capitalism enriches a society but also risks enervating the senses and the spirit by shrinking human aspirations into material acquisitiveness.
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Modern America, with its enervating comforts — including cosseting parents — and present-minded education that produces cultural amnesia, must deliberately make its citizens.
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But, as the activism increased, the classroom discussions occasionally seemed enervated, the participants vaguely distracted.
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Seemingly immune to political norms, his brassy courting of scandal is frustrating attempts to effectively govern, enervating progress on health care and tax reform.
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These and other incidents in a long and enervating season have prompted Bradshaw to step up efforts to deal with tanking.
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.
Did You Know?
Enervate is a word that some people use without really knowing what it means. They seem to believe that because "enervate" looks a little bit like "energize" and "invigorate" it must share their meaning - but it is actually their antonym. "Enervate" comes from the Latin word enervare, which was formed from the prefix e-, meaning "out of," and "-nervare" (from nervus, meaning "sinew or nerve"). So, etymologically at least, someone who is enervated is "out of nerve."
Origin and Etymology of enervate
enervate Synonyms
Synonyms
castrate, damp, dampen, deaden, desiccate, devitalize, dehydrate, geld, lobotomize, petrifyAntonyms
brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize, vivifyRelated Words
burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispiritNear Antonyms
arouse, rouse, stir; charge, electrify, galvanize; excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up); abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift; reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, reenergize, refresh, regenerate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, reviveSynonym 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.
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- unnerved by the near collision
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- a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure
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- a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle
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- an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards
ENERVATE Defined for English Language Learners
enervate
play
verb
Definition of enervate for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone or something) very weak or tired
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about enervate
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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
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