DEBILITATING Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

debilitating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of debilitating

as in demoralizing

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Dissimilar Words

debilitating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of debilitate

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

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 debilitating

Adjective

In today's economy, overspending, poor management and an investment that doesn't work out can be financially debilitating. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 But any movement that engages her core muscles — bending, turning, stretching — is painful and debilitating. — Daniela Suarez, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Verb

This comparison will be crucial to determine specifically what cargo exosomes are carrying that contribute to this debilitating chronic pain condition. — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 As a result, 2,977 people were killed and thousands still struggle with debilitating illness. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debilitating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitating

Adjective

Zibanejad was a deserving team MVP in an otherwise demoralizing 2025-26 campaign, posting his highest totals in three years for goals (34) and points (78).

— Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Suddenly, in this most demoralizing scenario, USC is out of the Playoff picture at the halfway point of the season.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of demoralizing

Verb

That slows price increases by generally weakening economic growth.

— Matt Peterson, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
The immediate priorities are to understand which existing revenue is most secure, where client demand may be weakening and which relationships could lead to additional or recurring work.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of weakening

Adjective

This is a good time to organize the list, clarify expectations, or make a routine feel less draining.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
Speaking of the part of van life spent behind the wheel, Volkswagen has slightly reworked the Grand California's driver-assistance suite to make driving a little less draining.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 July 2026

Definition of draining

Verb

The Sagittarius Moon trines Chiron in your partnership zone, softening the instinct to package every feeling so perfectly that nobody could possibly object.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
China's oil import diet in turn helped ease global demand, softening the upward price effects for the United States, Europe and beyond.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of softening

Adjective

But the most mentally fatiguing aspect, the work found, was having to constantly supervise the AI tools, with some employees overseeing multiple AI agents performing different tasks at the same time.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
My friend was in course of opening up his country house unassisted, and after a fatiguing day discovered that the only practical bed was a child’s affair— long enough but scarcely wider than a crib.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Definition of fatiguing

Verb

Commanders should seek positional advantages without exhausting their soldiers, manipulate the enemy’s movements when possible, and recognize when circumstances make pursuit or attack unwise.

— Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
The dispute has become even more complicated because some members of the 2022 class pursued professional opportunities after exhausting their eligibility under the previous system.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhausting

Verb

Instead of running an advanced reasoning model on repetitive work and wasting resources, switch to a lightweight model purpose-built for high-volume execution.

— Paul Deraval, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Even after 25 years, Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro’s series about an anthropomorphic milkshake, french fry container, and a wad of meat wasting their days in suburban New Jersey remains one of Adult Swim’s most recognizable properties.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of wasting

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“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitating. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of debilitating

adjective

verb

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