debilitated 1 of 2

adjective

as in weak
lacking bodily strength the debilitated prisoners could barely stand

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debilitated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of debilitate
as in weakened
to diminish the physical strength of the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of debilitated
Verb
In gratifying the left, the Warren Court debilitated the long tradition of opposing judicial supremacy. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 After being shocked with the glove, the officer screamed and dropped to the ground, briefly debilitated for the moment the glove made contact with his skin. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 12 Aug. 2026 In Desert Storm, the short duration of ground operations was made possible by an air campaign that debilitated Iraq’s entire military establishment. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Destruction of their livelihoods and more — they are debilitated. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Israel quickly debilitated Iran’s air defenses and caused significant damage to Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 The war, the latest and most extensive Israel offensive in the Gaza Strip, has greatly debilitated Hamas. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026 Amid an unprecedented cold snap in the Upper Florida Keys, six juvenile green sea turtles were discovered debilitated by frigid waters and are now undergoing intensive care at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitated
  1. weak
  2. weakened
  3. feeble
  4. softened
  5. frail
  6. exhausted
  7. disabled
  8. tired
Adjective
  • The Falcons’ season begins this weekend; one that most are considering an evaluation year with an outside chance at playoff contention in a weak division.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Palace are probably weaker at centre-back overall, though, and two loans are not ideal.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Verb
  • Economic data for July showed retail sales and urban investment both weakened, adding to pressure on Beijing to step up support for the remainder of the year.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This view suggests that the sense of shame was collectively weakened by a series of self-interested actors who shattered the social firmament and opened up the gates to chaos.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • Kenneth Branagh originated the somewhat aloof professor, who steps into the role after Professor Quirrell was revealed to be hosting the feeble Lord Voldemort on the back of his bald head.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of using a mirror to gather starlight, MOTHRA has many telephoto lenses, like those on a camera, which can capture faintly glowing wisps of gas and other feeble emanations across a wider field of view.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of feeble
Verb
  • But as Brown’s market softened, Gansey and the Sixers were still there.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But while anti-immigrant, pro-Russian parties have made inroads across the continent in recent years, there have also been notable reversals, and some have softened their views to build coalitions with moderates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of softened
Adjective
  • Castro looked frail and thinner In his traditional olive-green fatigues, but was seen walking, standing and talking.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Under the contract that expired June 30, UCLA had been providing specialty care to 9,000 medically frail patients from Health Care LA, an association of nonprofit clinics that serve patients covered by Medi-Cal, the state program for the poor.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of frail
Verb
  • Once the appeals process is exhausted, the court's certification is sent to the State Department, along with court records.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But their first-choice XI last season was good enough to take on most in the Premier League when fit and not be exhausted by a Conference League-winning campaign.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • On July 7, two weeks after Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the predominantly Jewish town of Berdichev, where Grossman’s disabled mother was living, was occupied by the German army.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • And some disabled people have had their caregiving slashed by new algorithmic assessments.
    — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of disabled
Verb
  • Fellow striker Ricardo Pepi tired out the Australian back line all day.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 20 June 2026
  • Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of tired

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Cite this Entry

“Debilitated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitated. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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