ENERVATE Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enervate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enervate are emasculate , unman , and unnerve . While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort. // a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

Q: When would 'emasculate' be a good substitute for 'enervate'?

The synonyms emasculate and enervate are sometimes interchangeable, but emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential. // an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Q: Where would 'unman' be a reasonable alternative to 'enervate'?

Although the words unman and enervate have much in common, unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit. // a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

Q: In what contexts can 'unnerve' take the place of 'enervate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to enervate , unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act. // unnerved by the near collision

enervate 1 of 2

verb

ˈe-nər-ˌvāt

Definition of enervate

as in to undermine

to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality a lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to weaken

to diminish the physical strength of the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enervate

2 of 2

adjective

as in feeble

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enervate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enervate are emasculate, unman, and unnerve. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When would emasculate be a good substitute for enervate?

The synonyms emasculate and enervate are sometimes interchangeable, but emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Where would unman be a reasonable alternative to enervate?

Although the words unman and enervate have much in common, unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

In what contexts can unnerve take the place of enervate?

While in some cases nearly identical to enervate, unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

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 enervate

Verb

Jenny deflected me with enervating ease. — Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026 The results are often enervating though sometimes clumsy. — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026 This may reframe his friend’s enervating habit. — Hope Hunt, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026 Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living. — Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enervate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enervate

Verb

But supporters also warned that a Congress increasingly dominated by the far right and the agribusiness caucus could undermine those efforts to protect the forest and combat climate change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
The senator challenged Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin’s decision to extend voting by two hours, arguing that the uneven application of the measure had undermined equal voting conditions.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

The regime remains capable of suppressing any organized resistance in the country, but the growing disaffection of the elite threatens to weaken the state from within.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Eisenkot's allies could also try to reverse legislation advanced by Netanyahu's government that critics say weakened Israel's democratic institutions and judicial independence.

— Itay Stern, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Adjective

As Claudia, Curtis is perfectly biting and obnoxious, willing to insert herself into her ex-husband’s life for sport, stomping on his feeble boundaries.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
In 1937, Foyles started the Right Book Club, a rather feeble counterweight to Victor Gollancz’s Left Book Club.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of feeble

Verb

When all out-of-court options have been exhausted, and the MCA debt threatens the immediate survival of an otherwise viable business, legal reorganization is the final angle of management.

— Nathan Mor, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Like athletes in other pro leagues, NFL players must first exhaust out-of-court arbitration and grievance procedures.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Unlike a traditional body lotion, the moisturizer’s lightweight, milky texture softens skin, smooths rough patches, and relieves dryness sans the greasy film.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026
The reality is that this effect was a deliberate design choice to soften the edges of the villa and smooth out its different volumes.

— Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of soften

Adjective

Leadership turmoil and a weakened state, as seen with the enfeebled late Ming, could well fuse with latent social tensions to produce an existential crisis.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
By 1877, the hope for Black equality met an enfeebled federal government that essentially permitted Jim Crow to run amok.

— Wesley Morris, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Definition of enfeebled

Verb

Some alluvial and floodplain soils can drain well and appear quite dry, yet still meet Connecticut’s definition of an inland wetland.

— Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Fuel that smells sour, appears darker than usual, or shows signs of separation should be drained from the lawn mower and disposed of properly, instead of combined with new fuel.

— Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of drain

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energy

enervate

enervated

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“Enervate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enervate. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of enervate

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adjective

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