debilitates

verb

present tense third-person singular of debilitate
as in weakens
to diminish the physical strength of the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitates
  1. weakens
  2. softens
Verb
  • In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Water limits visibility and weakens the effectiveness of traditional surveillance systems such as radar.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Your 1st House of Identity softens as the nurturing Moon conjoins tender Chiron there, inviting gentle self-care and a kinder inner voice.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Soak the Pit Place the seed in room-temperature water for 24 to 48 hours, as this softens the outer shell and signals the embryo to wake up.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of softens
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Debilitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitates. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on debilitates

Nglish: Translation of debilitates for Spanish Speakers

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