WEAKEN Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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

Q: When would 'cripple' be a good substitute for 'weaken'?

While in some cases nearly identical to weaken , 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 'weaken'?

The words debilitate and weaken can be used in similar contexts, but debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality. // the debilitating effects of surgery

Q: When could 'disable' be used to replace 'weaken'?

While the synonyms disable and weaken are close in meaning, disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability. // disabled by an injury sustained at work

Q: When might 'enfeeble' be a better fit than 'weaken'?

The synonyms enfeeble and weaken are sometimes interchangeable, but enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness. // enfeebled by starvation

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

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

weaken

verb

ˈwē-kən

Definition of weaken

as in to soften

to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dilute

to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances weakened the juice with too much water

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word weaken distinct from other similar verbs?

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

When would cripple be a good substitute for weaken?

While in some cases nearly identical to weaken, 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 weaken?

The words debilitate and weaken can be used in similar contexts, but debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When could disable be used to replace weaken?

While the synonyms disable and weaken are close in meaning, disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When might enfeeble be a better fit than weaken?

The synonyms enfeeble and weaken are sometimes interchangeable, but enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

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

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

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 weaken And the indicators tell you whether those conditions are strengthening or weakening. — Allison Mais, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 In March, Brodeur backed an amendment quietly tacked on to a land-use bill that would have gutted Seminole’s rural boundary and weakened local governments’ ability to control growth. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 Even when the long-term opportunity remains attractive, higher financing costs can weaken project economics and make investors more sensitive to execution risks. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 This molten salt weakens the coating on the silicon panel, allowing the silver wires to peel off intact as pure metal. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weaken

Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken

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

Verb

Mount Fuji’s hiking trails, Niseko’s ski slopes, and Nara’s deer park all began to sag under the weight of overtourism.

— Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Aside from obvious fixes like leaking ceilings and sagging floors, the layout, which was chopped up into a warren of tight quarters, needed a full gut to allow the space to breathe and gain more light.

— Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

About a week after that procedure, Bickelhaupt received a second opinion from a different neurosurgeon, who said the bone flap was infected and should be removed.

— Zoey Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
The virus has also been known to infect sheep, goats, horses and alpacas.

— Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of infect

Verb

Shouldn’t raising a child with debilitating epilepsy earn me some sort of exemption in the diagnosis category?

— Jen Murphy Parker, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026
Most notably, Gershman has been absent, having fought to be able to hold an instrument or pick up his son again after a debilitating battle with long COVID and resulting autoimmune disease.

— Leena Tailor, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of debilitate

Verb

Resolution allows regulators to transfer a failing bank's deposits to other institutions before liquidating its remaining assets.

— EMILIO SANABRIA, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
If power fails or core temperatures rise, the system shuts down and the liquid fuel salt drains by gravity into passive dump tanks without operator action.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of fail

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“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of weaken

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