as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the debilitation that all the prisoners of war had experienced during their captivity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
attributed the patient's general debilitation to an iron deficiency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debilitate
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
This sense of acceptance is debilitating in its own way.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
The most consistent link, Whelan said, is with Crohn’s disease — an often-debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that causes abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debilitate
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
This sense of acceptance is debilitating in its own way.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
The most consistent link, Whelan said, is with Crohn’s disease — an often-debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that causes abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debilitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitate
Verb
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The finance minister’s comments come after Takaichi sent a fresh warning on Sunday that the government will be ready to take action amid a weakening yen and surging bond yields.—
Mia Glass,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Over the past day, the trough that was keeping the storm track far away from us here has weakened, allowing the track to be closer to us.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cleaning Products And Chemicals Paint, fertilizer, weed killer, pool cleaners, and other temperature-sensitive chemicals should be brought indoors for the winter to prevent freezing and deterioration.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
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Motorists traveling across the area this morning, including along I-85 and I-77 through Charlotte metro and vicinity, should be prepared for sudden deterioration in visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Together, the cases highlight weaknesses in an industry that has long struggled to balance nutritional innovation with safety.—
Jillian Deutsch,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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In signing Díaz and Tucker, Los Angeles addressed two areas of weakness by throwing money at the top option on the market.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Add 1 large white onion, finely chopped, 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped, and a large pinch of kosher salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 8–12 minutes.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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The lower house in the Dutch parliament approved a plan to scrap bonus restrictions for most financial sector staff, a major step in softening a rule that has long been excoriated by the industry.—
Sarah Jacob,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Developers are divided about how much this signals a weakening of what has been a scorchingly hot market for new multifamily housing.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
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Affordability has become a potent political issue, especially with the job market weakening.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That exhaustion after meetings that drain rather than energize you.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Managing the logistics of displacement is further complicated by endless paperwork, insurance claims, Federal Emergency Management Agency forms and the exhaustion of grief.—
Tara Anne Dalbow,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
Noun
-
That fatigue shows up in churn.—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Sometimes the quickest cure to outfit fatigue is simply adding a bright hue into the mix—below are 15 to consider.—
Fred Sahai,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitate. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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