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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 But military action alone isn’t enough; economic, diplomatic, and other soft power strategies are also needed to weaken the group, according to the report. Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025 This weakens the follicle over time to stifle hair from growing in the first place. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 May 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for weaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken
Verb
  • Add bell peppers to pan; cook until peppers just start to soften, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
  • New car sales surged ahead of the imposition of tariffs and fears of higher consumer prices as a result, and the Trump administration softened the blow from its trade war on automakers by reducing levies on certain auto components.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Hope for a similar easy resolution for the Wentz family quickly faded.
    Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 3 May 2025
  • The issue of student rights has faded from headlines, though obstacles linger.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • It was then put into a Chartreuse barrel for an additional seven months of aging, and finally returned to the bourbon barrel to allow the flavors to marry before being diluted to bottling strength of 46 percent ABV.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025
  • To make cold-brew concentrate that can then be diluted with water or milk, roll with a ratio of 4 or 5 to 1 by weight.
    Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to the Associated Press, no one was injured during the incident, citing court documents.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • Two people were injured and a dozen apartments left uninhabitable following an early morning fire Wednesday at a three-story apartment building, the second residential fire in Elgin in less than a week.
    Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • While Donald Trump’s return sparked surges early in the year, including brief all-time highs across major tokens, prices have largely sagged.
    Catherine Baab, Quartz, 9 May 2025
  • Even when his overall approval ratings sagged, voters consistently gave him his highest marks on the economy.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Pegasus is able to remotely infect user’s devices without their knowledge.
    Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
  • By this time, anti-woke sentiment had infected the mainstream and interest in showy egalitarianism and visible diversity was noticeably lower.
    Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • And working to recognize the difference between debilitating struggles (such as those that led to MJ Melendez being sent to Triple-A Omaha) and staying the course because of belief or encouraging signs — as with Massey (hitting .206).
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025
  • Hundreds of families in Maryland are affected by this debilitating disease.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • Even though the measure failed in Bensenville, at least 163 communities around the state have recently enacted local grocery taxes.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on weaken

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