devitalize

verb

(ˌ)dē-ˈvī-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce devitalize (audio)
Definition of devitalizenext
1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality overuse has devitalized many a once-striking figure of speech

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of she was devitalized by the infection

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 devitalize This can devitalize the plant to the point of it starting to die back. — oregonlive, 5 Feb. 2023 Miller’s writing début may have been precipitated by her assault, but the final work devitalizes its horrific beginnings. — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devitalize
  1. undermine
  2. weaken
  3. drain
  4. soften
  5. exhaust
  6. waste
  7. petrify
  8. enervate
Verb
  • State leaders have introduced Assembly Bill 1383, which undermines crucial PEPRA guardrails, granting an unfunded pension benefit increase to first responders by reducing their retirement age.
    — Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
  • For American tech companies, free and comparable Chinese models like K3 threaten to undermine their own products.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • The storm was expected to strengthen further before weakening by midweek.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • While developing Se-jeong, Yeon envisioned a character who was an outcast but not someone weakened by isolation.
    — Rachael Jung, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Adjust the plan, automate one small savings move, and choose generosity that does not drain you.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
  • Choose the step that strengthens your confidence instead of draining it.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • In recent months, with his cancer diagnosis now public, his attitude had softened and the prospect of him coming back to the stadium was dangling.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Let your shoes soften the look, while the rest of your accessories—like a designer bag and statement jewelry—do all the heavy lifting.
    — India Roby, Glamour, 21 July 2026
Definition of soften
Verb
  • Leaders who continually forge themselves become harder to exhaust, unsettle, or outmaneuver.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • After graduating with a degree in business economics, Pichardo learned that NCAA athletes can compete in a different sport after exhausting their initial four years of eligibility.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Trackman has over 500 courses, so instead of wasting reservation time, the staff can provide recommendations to help narrow down the search and get to swinging.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
  • False-positive rates matter operationally, as acting on a misclassification wastes resources and might reveal sensor positions.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of waste
Verb
  • The first film follows a group of French high-school students who travel to Naples on a school trip to discover the ruins of Pompeii and the bodies petrified by Vesuvius.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2026
  • Johansson plays her with a tough edge to match her Queens accent, but Hester is clearly petrified by this perfect storm of ugly events.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Definition of petrify
Verb
  • The impact of that shocking final scene is sufficient to send viewers out feeling enervated after what’s been a pretty desultory final act.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
  • Campbell, the North Carolina folk singer, describes an enervating process marked by back-and-forth exchanges and lots of waiting.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of enervate

Browse Nearby Words

devising
devitalize
devitalized
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Cite this Entry

“Devitalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devitalize. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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