devitalizes

verb

present tense third-person singular of devitalize
1
as in undermines
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 weakens
to diminish the physical strength of she was devitalized by the infection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devitalizes
  1. undermines
  2. weakens
  3. exhausts
  4. softens
  5. drains
  6. wastes
  7. wears
  8. petrifies
Verb
  • The coalition filed an amicus brief urging a federal judge in Idaho to block enforcement of the law while the lawsuit moves forward, arguing that the measure is unconstitutional and undermines the rights and safety of transgender students.
    — Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In pastel on brown paper, the loose, gestural application further undermines the boundaries between bodies.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • In a turnaround, the danger is that cutting so deeply weakens the capabilities needed for recovery.
    — Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Every decision that follows—from financial management to customer experience—either strengthens or weakens that identity.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
Definition of exhausts
Verb
  • Once that inner conversation softens, connection to others tends to follow.
    — Jan Gerber, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The versatile pair will quickly become their everyday staple, with premium Venetian leather that softens and develops character with every wear.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of softens
Verb
  • Every square inch of land on Earth’s surface receives precipitation, and much of it drains out, eventually, to an ocean or lake.
    — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This can be in a low spot in your yard that always drains poorly, or under a roof awning or near a gutter that is likely to overflow.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of drains
Verb
  • The same on-premises assumption wastes money in a second way.
    — Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Donating unsuitable items wastes time and resources, so focus on clean, usable pieces.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 July 2026
Definition of wastes
Verb
  • An Arizona resident wears it to protect themselves from the sun.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In film, this hairstyle has become emblematic, notably in Bend It Like Beckham, where Keira Knightley wears it with a short curtain crop.
    — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of wears
Verb
  • Here, a source of primordial terror—the gaze that petrifies—is deflected by way of the highly polished shield that Perseus wields against the creature.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The former slingshots between harmony and hysteria; the latter petrifies its beauty under a haze of ashy gray powder.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Definition of petrifies
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.

Browse Nearby Words

devitalized
devitalizes
devitalizing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Devitalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devitalizes. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of circumscribe

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All