enervates

verb

present tense third-person singular of enervate
1
as in undermines
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality a lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul

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2
as in weakens
to diminish the physical strength of the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enervates
  1. undermines
  2. weakens
  3. exhausts
  4. softens
  5. deadens
  6. drains
  7. petrifies
Verb
  • Also, and not to totally belabor the point, but limiting analysis of the NFL’s impact on the ad market to in-game revenue effectively undermines the second-order impact on non-NFL pricing.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Unethical conduct undermines the rule of law, risks national security, and sets a dangerous precedent for every level of government.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • As that constraint weakens, so, too, may an incentive for restraint.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Infants with the condition may have lifelong complications and may need a heart transplant if the defect is complex, or if the heart weakens after surgery, according to the federal health agency.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 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
  • Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of deadens
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
  • 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Enervates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enervates. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of enervates for Spanish Speakers

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