1
as in to soften
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
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
Interventions in foreign countries have long been attempts to refashion America’s identity and to reinvigorate, through external validation, the weakening faith of Americans in their own institutions.
—
Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
While the wealthiest Americans have seen their wealth grow from record stock market highs and rising real estate values, the average American has seen their earnings decline, job prospects weaken and costs continue to rise.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Subtract what weakens the system.
—Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
His group says the final regulations created too many exemptions and weakened portions of the original bill, particularly around chemical recycling and plastic-to-fuel technologies that many environmental groups argue should not count as true recycling.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
While the wealthiest Americans have seen their wealth grow from record stock market highs and rising real estate values, the average American has seen their earnings decline, job prospects weaken and costs continue to rise.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Subtract what weakens the system.
—Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
His group says the final regulations created too many exemptions and weakened portions of the original bill, particularly around chemical recycling and plastic-to-fuel technologies that many environmental groups argue should not count as true recycling.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken
Verb
-
Inside, its modernist lines are softened by lush textiles and the soft curves of furnishings from Urquiola’s designs for Italian brands such as Cassina and Molteni, as well as the vertical gardens developed by botanist Patrick Blanc.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Reports suggest OpenAI's financials are comparatively weaker and that secondary market demand for its shares has softened—while competition for Anthropic secondary shares has been described as fierce.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
While desirable homes still sell quickly, frenzied bidding wars have faded.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
Deadheading Is Another Form Of Pinching Back Deadheading is similar to pinching back, but it is done once the flowers begin to fade.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
There is an effort to dilute the high-pH water in ditches that was contaminated with the large amount of chemicals that spilled, officials said.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
That case argued that Louisiana lawmakers illegally diluted Black voting power by failing to draw a second majority-Black district in a state where Black voters account for roughly one third of the population.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Additionally, a jury found Pasqual guilty of first-degree residential burglary and multiple counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance's, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
-
Overnight into Tuesday, waves of drones and missiles struck the capital, killing and injuring civilians and damaging homes, businesses and public buildings.—
Polina Lytvynova,
NPR,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s sagging approval rating comes as Democrats have a chance at outperforming Republicans in midterms, with Emerson’s May poll showing Democrats with a 9-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, though 9% of voters were undecided.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Stock performance by Salesforce on Thursday, which sagged despite an impressive beat on profits and revenues, is emblematic of the troubles facing software.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
While the fly is capable of infecting humans and pets, such cases are rare and pose little risk to the broader public, according to experts.—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
More people will get infected, and 30 to 50 percent of those who contract the virus will die.—
Anthony Banbury,
Washington Post,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Stories like Martinez’s are fueling interest in HBOT as a treatment for long COVID, a broad constellation of symptoms, including brain fog and debilitating fatigue that affects millions of people worldwide and has no clear remedy.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Scientific American,
1 June 2026
-
What initially appeared to be a simple injury eventually developed into complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a debilitating chronic pain condition often considered one of the most painful disorders recognized in medicine.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
However, the anticipated state finals clash was not to be as Calabasas dropped the baton in the Southern Section finals and failed to advance.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
It has been cited seven times by the AQMD since 2012 for such things as failing to report breakdowns and failing to maintain a system that measures and records temperatures.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
