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
1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
daily exercise can help to halt some of the enfeeblement that comes with advanced years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
a lot of the enfeeblement I've experienced since the accident is being gradually diminished by daily physical therapy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of enfeeble
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
Decades of mass incarceration have resulted in a prison population growing older and more enfeebled, and has introduced the challenge of reintegrating people coming out after long sentences, often with few skills, into a society that technology has made alienatingly unfamiliar.
—Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2023
Yet an honest accounting forced me to admit that my ability to party, protest, and publish has been far more enfeebled than enabled by social media.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 7 Mar. 2023
Most of the time, the result will enfeeble the virus.
—Boyce Upholt, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2022
The paradox is that trauma’s lingering impacts can enfeeble human connection, weakening even the strongest of social bonds.
—New York Times, 5 July 2022
Verb
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
Decades of mass incarceration have resulted in a prison population growing older and more enfeebled, and has introduced the challenge of reintegrating people coming out after long sentences, often with few skills, into a society that technology has made alienatingly unfamiliar.
—Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2023
Yet an honest accounting forced me to admit that my ability to party, protest, and publish has been far more enfeebled than enabled by social media.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 7 Mar. 2023
Most of the time, the result will enfeeble the virus.
—Boyce Upholt, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2022
The paradox is that trauma’s lingering impacts can enfeeble human connection, weakening even the strongest of social bonds.
—New York Times, 5 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfeeble
Verb
-
The pests set about sucking the sap from grape roots, slowly weakening them and opening wounds that invited disease.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Apr. 2025
-
As more state legislation is passed that weakens or eliminates longstanding fire and life safety codes, the need for young workers who are trained and passionate about reversing these trends is high.—
Jim Pauley,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This may further contribute to a deterioration in hard data and usher in an economic recession.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Urban trees have also been found to slow the deterioration of streets and reduce crime.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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During periods of economic weakness when lending activity slows, consumers with high credit scores sometimes can take advantage of attractive offers.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
This move addresses one ongoing weakness with Bluesky: knowing who is real.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Grapes are chilled after picking for 24 hours to soften grape skins before whole cluster fermentation.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
In a December call, the Pope lobbied Biden to soften death-row sentences for convicts.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Overtraining can lead to mental exhaustion and burnout.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The specific exhaustion of being a mother By Olga Khazan Subscribe to Listen1.0x 0:009:47 Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (Noa) using AI narration.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Comic book fatigue, boycotts and even just quality have affected recent releases for Marvel.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Symptoms include itchy skin and night sweats, as well as abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
-
President Biden’s troubles — lingering inflation, wars and rumors of wars, his debility — could have benefited any Republican.—
David Harsanyi,
National Review,
25 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Enfeeble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfeeble. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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