1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
overuse has devitalized many a once-striking figure of speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
His lip was completely destroyed with multiple linear lacerations, jagged lacerations, devitalized tissue, denervated tissue with a 12 cm laceration in multiple pieces of the entire left upper lift, the mucosal surface, and orbicularis.
—Edmund H. Mahony, courant.com, 1 June 2017
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
His lip was completely destroyed with multiple linear lacerations, jagged lacerations, devitalized tissue, denervated tissue with a 12 cm laceration in multiple pieces of the entire left upper lift, the mucosal surface, and orbicularis.
—Edmund H. Mahony, courant.com, 1 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devitalize
Verb
-
But their deadly design may undermine human health, too.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
5 June 2025
-
The voucher program, which provides tax money to help pay for private and parochial school tuition, has undermined public education.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Reserve forward Obi Toppin helped swing the game, draining five 3s off the bench.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Its rich, tinted formula softens without compromising pigment making Eadem’s Lip Softening Balm a no-fuss makeup staple that will leave you looking primped on the go and after a long day.—
Valerie Butler,
Essence,
28 May 2025
-
That said, the broader US housing market remains under pressure from persistent affordability challenges, elevated mortgage rates, and softening consumer sentiment.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
The visa expired in February 2023, but Soliman has not exhausted legal efforts to remain in the U.S., according to NBC.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
-
The object could be a white dwarf—an Earth-sized husk that remains after a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Miami wasted another opportunity to cut into the Cardinals’ lead in the seventh, stranding another pair of runners on base after striking and grounding out with one out.—
Cameron Priester,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
-
In a one-scene cameo, Kyle MacLachlan represents the tough-love alternative as Kate’s exasperated ex-husband, who’s ready to throw in the towel, but agrees to write one last check — well aware his daughter will find some way to waste it.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
Nearly every day brings a fresh breach of what were once thought to be the rules, moves that have thrilled his insurgent supporters and petrified his nervous opponents.—
Peter Baker,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
He was petrified by the thought of dying of cancer or some other disease whose senselessness disgusted him.—
Ian Buruma,
The New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This relationship, when successful, tends to enervate mediating institutions that thwart the immediate desires of both the populist leader and the public.—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
28 Feb. 2021
-
The saving grace of this often enervating thriller is that Doscher grants time for his actors to build character and intimacy, and both Pinto and Odom offer warm, affectingly natural performances as two people facing the end of their world.—
Teo Bugbee,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Devitalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devitalize. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share