weaken

verb

weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening
ˈwēk-niŋ,
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
; weakens

transitive verb

1
: to make weak : lessen the strength of
2
: to reduce in intensity or effectiveness

intransitive verb

: to become weak
weakener
ˈwēk-nər
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for weaken

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 weaken in a Sentence

The disease weakens the immune system. Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy. The beams had been weakened by water damage. efforts to weaken environmental laws The recent setbacks have not weakened our resolve. These kinds of contradictions weaken your argument. The disease causes the immune system to weaken. The dollar has continued to weaken against the euro. Lower interest rates have weakened the dollar.
Recent Examples on the Web To stop the outbreak from spreading and protect children already weakened after nearly a year of bombardment, displacement and severe supply shortages, UNICEF worked with partners to organize an emergency polio vaccination campaign. Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Many shampoos with harsh chemicals strip your natural oils and weaken your hair’s bonds, leading to damaged cuticles. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Oct. 2024 With persistent exposure to toxic stressors like cigarette smoke, heavy metals, or chronic emotional strain, this waste may weaken the cells and cause proteins to misfold, which could eventually cause disease. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024 The aide had hired three Russian contractors to conduct a covert online propaganda campaign to weaken global support for Ukraine’s attempt to repel Russia’s invasion. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for weaken 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weaken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of weaken was circa 1529

Dictionary Entries Near weaken

Cite this Entry

“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaken. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

weaken

verb
weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening ˈwēk-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce weaken (audio)
: to make or become weak or weaker

More from Merriam-Webster on weaken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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