1
as in thinned
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
the pharmacist, motivated by pure greed, would pass off the weakened drugs to unsuspecting customers, some of whom had life-threatening illnesses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
left weakened by a prolonged illness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in soft
lacking strength of will or character
the nation's people, weakened by years of tyranny, tended to automatically obey anyone with an authoritative manner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thin
not containing very much of some important element
some experts recommend that runners drink a weakened mixture of juice and water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in softened
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
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 diluted
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 weakened
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
With such vaccines, called whole-virus vaccines, a person’s immune system is presented with the whole virus, often in weakened or inactivated form.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Due to the fall, Dakota suffered severe head trauma, several brain bleeds, fractures on his skull, deep wounds to his body and weakened kidneys.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
With such vaccines, called whole-virus vaccines, a person’s immune system is presented with the whole virus, often in weakened or inactivated form.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
Minor gastrointestinal discomfort is probably the most common symptom; however, pathogens that may cause only minor sickness in some people may cause serious conditions or death in others, especially in the very young, old, or those with weakened immune systems.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
People with weakened immune systems are candidates for antifungal medication.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
That’s because FluMist is made from weakened forms of the live virus.
—Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 14 Sep. 2025
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Florida Democrats, weakened by years of losses and fractured messaging, continue to face a shrinking electorate.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Attorney Chris Mattei, representing the agents, said the dismissals weakened the bureau.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
But after political pushback, Bass weakened her pro-housing positions, removing fast-track projects in areas zoned for single family housing (over 75% of the city’s residential land).
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The past two months’ job reports and a slew of recent employment data have made clear that America’s labor market has substantially weakened.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Exposure to the pesticide DDT in the 1960s weakened the shells of eggs laid by merlins and other raptors, and fewer of their chicks survived.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the latest jobs report confirmed that the labor market weakened sharply over the spring and summer and that sectors most affected by tariffs have seen the biggest losses.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
These symptoms are more likely to appear in kittens or felines with weakened immune systems.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
With such vaccines, called whole-virus vaccines, a person’s immune system is presented with the whole virus, often in weakened or inactivated form.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Due to the fall, Dakota suffered severe head trauma, several brain bleeds, fractures on his skull, deep wounds to his body and weakened kidneys.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
With such vaccines, called whole-virus vaccines, a person’s immune system is presented with the whole virus, often in weakened or inactivated form.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
Minor gastrointestinal discomfort is probably the most common symptom; however, pathogens that may cause only minor sickness in some people may cause serious conditions or death in others, especially in the very young, old, or those with weakened immune systems.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
People with weakened immune systems are candidates for antifungal medication.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
That’s because FluMist is made from weakened forms of the live virus.
—Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.
—Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 14 Sep. 2025
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Florida Democrats, weakened by years of losses and fractured messaging, continue to face a shrinking electorate.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Attorney Chris Mattei, representing the agents, said the dismissals weakened the bureau.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
But after political pushback, Bass weakened her pro-housing positions, removing fast-track projects in areas zoned for single family housing (over 75% of the city’s residential land).
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The past two months’ job reports and a slew of recent employment data have made clear that America’s labor market has substantially weakened.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Exposure to the pesticide DDT in the 1960s weakened the shells of eggs laid by merlins and other raptors, and fewer of their chicks survived.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the latest jobs report confirmed that the labor market weakened sharply over the spring and summer and that sectors most affected by tariffs have seen the biggest losses.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakened
Adjective
-
The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What’s more, a lot of Americans still have mortgage rates that are low enough to make the idea of a move daunting, and affordability overall hasn’t improved much even as the economy has softened.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Materials are interesting in that a low looks to have been established, while Capital Equipment has softened somewhat recently.—
Randy Watts,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the worries quickly faded as the day began with calm waters.—
Amelia Wu,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But while overall buyer demand has faded, new home construction has helped prop up housing market values in Sun Belt markets, Zillow found.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There is, though, a very real danger of the quality being diluted sufficiently to damage the EFL brand.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Clean Apple cider vinegar, sometimes referred to as ACV, should always be diluted for cleaning purposes.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Not abstract, delayed or generalized data, but precise, real-time and location-specific insights delivered from the world’s most remote forests, deepest watersheds and most polluted urban corridors.—
Michael De Nil,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Whilst the moon might not be that hard to see in a light-polluted area, capturing it on a smart telescope is still impressive.—
Harry Bennett,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brad Ingelsby’s follow-up to the much-beloved Mare of Easttown switches focus from steely women to feeble men.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The feeble report all but confirms a Fed interest rate cut later this month and raises at least the possibility of a half point – rather than a typical quarter point - reduction, Saunders said.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Leaders who pay attention to these lessons now will be best prepared to thrive in a world where the boundaries between Earth and orbit are becoming ever thinner.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Texans were up 28-21, and Keller had exhausted all of its timeouts.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Defense lawyers could still file appeals, but once those challenges are exhausted, the ruling becomes final and any prison terms can be enforced.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakened. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share