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 Ozone pollution, meanwhile, can stunt the growth of trees and weaken plants, per the report. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 Here’s what happens, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Tissue around the eyes gradually weaken and sag, which allows fat to shift into the lower eyelids, contributing to puffiness. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024 The labor market, a key area of concern for BOE inflation fighters, is also showing signs of weakening. Tom Rees, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 Sequoias need fire to reproduce, but the supercharged blazes of recent years have become lethal to the trees already weakened by drought and bark beetles. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Wage competitiveness has weakened especially for teachers ages 20 to 30. USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Boxwoods that perished or were severely damaged were most likely weakened ahead of the freeze by insect damage. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 16 Mar. 2024 Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has spent almost a year trying to weaken the right-to-shelter requirement, hailed the settlement as a major victory. Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 But the principle has been weakened in recent years as more center-right parties have proven willing to build coalitions with more extremist groups. Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

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

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of weaken was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near weaken

Cite this Entry

“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaken. Accessed 29 Mar. 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

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