ENFEEBLE Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'enfeeble' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of enfeeble are cripple , debilitate , disable , sap , undermine , and weaken . While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness. // enfeebled by starvation

Q: In what contexts can 'cripple' take the place of 'enfeeble'?

Although the words cripple and enfeeble have much in common, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element. // crippled by arthritis

Q: Where would 'debilitate' be a reasonable alternative to 'enfeeble'?

In some situations, the words debilitate and enfeeble are roughly equivalent. However, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality. // the debilitating effects of surgery

Q: When is it sensible to use 'disable' instead of 'enfeeble'?

The words disable and enfeeble can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability. // disabled by an injury sustained at work

Q: How are the words 'undermine' and 'sap' related as synonyms of 'enfeeble'?

Both undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously. // a poor diet undermines your health // drugs had sapped his ability to think

Q: When is 'weaken' a more appropriate choice than 'enfeeble'?

While the synonyms weaken and enfeeble are close in meaning, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power. // a disease that weakens the body's defenses

enfeeble

verb

in-ˈfē-bəl

Definition of enfeeble next

as in to weaken

to diminish the physical strength of long periods of being confined to a hospital bed will enfeeble anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word enfeeble distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of enfeeble are cripple, debilitate, disable, sap, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

In what contexts can cripple take the place of enfeeble?

Although the words cripple and enfeeble have much in common, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

Where would debilitate be a reasonable alternative to enfeeble?

In some situations, the words debilitate and enfeeble are roughly equivalent. However, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When is it sensible to use disable instead of enfeeble?

The words disable and enfeeble can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

How are the words undermine and sap related as synonyms of enfeeble?

Both undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health

drugs had sapped his ability to think

When is weaken a more appropriate choice than enfeeble?

While the synonyms weaken and enfeeble are close in meaning, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

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 enfeeble In Church’s day, that separation depended on promoting a robust idea of American innocence over Europe’s enfeebling corruption. —

Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 If the goal instead is regime weakening—enfeebling the Islamic Republic so the Iranian public could overwhelm it—there are two ways forward. —

Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 If that is the case, the economic effect will be to draw capital out of emerging market economies, enfeebling them (and their currencies and bond markets). —

Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Since then, Recep Erdogan has enfeebled the country’s institutions and its economic backbone and has turned a foreign policy that used to be based on ‘no trouble with neigbours’ to one of ‘trouble with neighbours’. —

Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 That more recent tradition of the Bears — over the last 3 1/2 decades — has been one of mediocrity and that’s something Warren and Ryan Poles — and anyone else attached to the coaching search in any manner — has to convince top candidates will not enfeeble the organization moving forward. —

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 Dec. 2024 With its proxies enfeebled, the failure of Iran’s second missile barrage to do significant damage, and its adversaries’ superior military and intelligence capacities, the Islamic Republic’s hand has undoubtedly been weakened. —

Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024 To gain the gavel, McCarthy had to make a series of humiliating, enfeebling concessions to his far-right flank that more or less disempowered him. —

Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 28 Apr. 2023 The costs of maintaining an enormous Cold War army and navy enfeebled an already unstable Soviet economy. —

Gregory A. Daddis, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfeeble

Verb

As consumer activity has weakened, the central bank has warned about the growing misalignment between real sentiment and headline GDP growth.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors and weaken elastic fibers, which shortens the life of garments that would otherwise hold up for years.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026