as in demoralizing
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Dissimilar Words
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of
the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debilitating
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The team’s medical staff fitted Herbert with a protective cast and glove and the only debilitating factor in the final three quarters against the Raiders was his ability to take snaps from under center.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
That can lead to uncomfortable and even debilitating symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue.
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debilitating
Adjective
Mikells, who has undergone several procedures to address a debilitating but non-life-threatening health issue, is stepping down to focus on her recovery, according to an SEC filing.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The team’s medical staff fitted Herbert with a protective cast and glove and the only debilitating factor in the final three quarters against the Raiders was his ability to take snaps from under center.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Verb
The same guy who promised to keep us out of debilitating foreign conflicts has volunteered for the job of nation-building in a place about which the great majority of Americans know little and, until recently, cared less.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
That can lead to uncomfortable and even debilitating symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue.
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debilitating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitating
Adjective
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UConn shot 8-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half to Creighton’s 5-for-10, and went on a demoralizing 10-2 scoring run over the final two minutes of the half to take a 41-30 lead into the break.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
1 Feb. 2026
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After a year of lackluster hiring and an increasingly demoralizing job-search process, many are sitting out the slog of finding new work altogether.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said the images were aimed less at reassuring the public than at boosting morale among the regime’s weakening security forces.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Skies will be sunny, with winds weakening by the afternoon.—
Anthony Franze,
San Antonio Express-News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
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By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Is there a downside to softening butter quickly?—
Molly Allen,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
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With a severe deficiency, bone softening (a condition called osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children) may develop.—
Mark Stibich,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Grand Luna has an unprecedented high-frequency extension that goes as high as 30kHz, while remaining smooth, non-fatiguing, and eliminating harshness or sibilance thanks to Campfire’s acoustic engineering.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gentry had both of those things, but he is headed to the NFL after exhausting his eligibility.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Productivity improvements—many already visible—are sufficient to support that level of prosperity without exhausting the planet.—
Chris Bradley,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Yet seldom is heard a discouraging word when Darnold assesses what happened in New York, Carolina, San Francisco, or Minnesota.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Their status has been diminished by what has — charitably — been a really discouraging decade, featuring two separate relegations.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The morning favors slow starts, nudging us to notice needs early and respond without wasting time.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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When monitoring is ignored, and problems go uncorrected, large federal programs can operate for years without adequate safeguards, wasting taxpayer dollars.—
Sheila Weinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitating. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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