weakened 1 of 2

1
2
3
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

weakened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of weaken
1
2
3

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
Adjective
The bacteria can cause illnesses that could be fatal for children younger than 5, elderly people or people with weakened or compromised immune systems. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 However, Alt was limited to just six games after dealing with multiple ankle injuries, leaving the Chargers' offensive line in a weakened state. Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 While most healthy individuals recover within a week, some infections may result in a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 Salmonella can also cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Jenna Anderson, HEALTH, 18 Aug. 2026 Now, some fear a weakened Voting Rights Act could cause those gains to be reversed, Tamar Hallerman reports. Adam Beam, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness. Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 Older adults and people with weakened immune systems faced a higher risk of severe illness. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Anyone can contract necrotizing fasciitis, but the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to severe disease. Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Airstrikes have weakened the regime militarily but strengthened its standing internally. Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 That mechanism has weakened substantially since the global financial crisis, and particularly since 2020. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities. Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 At the start of the year, the Iranian regime was weakened, fending off protesters internally. Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Earlier this year, a Supreme Court decision weakened a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, threatening Black political representation across the South. ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 But in the summer of 2006 Arsenal weakened themselves — Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and Jose Antonio Reyes all departed. Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 As North Korea's nuclear programs have advanced, pressure on them to denuclearize has weakened. Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026 The ultimate effect of Fedorov appeal to everyone’s better angels, is that Zelensky is weakened, the questions of his electoral legitimacy amplified, and the call for an end to the war bolstered. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakened
Adjective
  • In Wilmington, officials are looking into why a couple of polluted tidal creeks in the area are struggling to recover despite restoration efforts.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But flood control cut off that supply, replacing it with polluted canals.
    Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The heat has caused a fall in nuclear generation, with power plants forced to shut down or reduce production across the region, while wind power generation has been weak over the summer.
    Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The state financial watchdog attributed the disbursement problems to administrative delays, weak project management, and late counterpart funding from the Congolese government.
    Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • With a steely disposition, Dikha is seen in the videos standing at the very front of a thin boat, executing a repetitive series of dance moves as a line of rowers propel them through a river.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The mountain of seafood comes with a little sidecar of very thin, very crispy potato chips, seemingly for the hell of it, and a bottle of tart, fiery homemade hot sauce.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Despite its small stature, this mini table's design—with its dramatic sloping base and softened top—packs a punch.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Now, after ongoing discussions with FIFA, that stance has reportedly softened, with UEFA reportedly receiving reassurances that such a project will never be attempted again.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hogan had largely faded from the headlines since his reinstatement, continuing to prosecute mostly white-collar and financial crimes and winning his fair share of jury trials.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The default setting also left colors looking faded, but raising the Saturation setting just a bit largely fixed that.
    M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hydrogen peroxide helps fight pests, diseases, and bacteria in plants when properly diluted.
    Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Serve immediately to avoid the salad becoming watery and diluted in flavor.
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Finally, the third recruits seaweed to gather minerals that are otherwise too dilute to chase.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
  • Clean and disinfect your pruning shears between working on each plant by dipping them into a dilute 10% solution of chlorine bleach water or rubbing alcohol.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of using a mirror to gather starlight, MOTHRA has many telephoto lenses, like those on a camera, which can capture faintly glowing wisps of gas and other feeble emanations across a wider field of view.
    Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
  • By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Weakened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakened. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster