as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the all-too-apparent weakening of our grandfather was hard on our mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in draining
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in softening
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 fading
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 diluting
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
weakened the juice with too much water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakening
Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Wall Street’s primary concern is competition from Anthropic and OpenAI weakening demand and pricing power for its customer relationship management software, which for years drove robust growth at high margins.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
However, beginning in 1989, the weakening and eventual fall of the Soviet Union marked a return to energy insecurity, and electricity produced in Cuba fell by 25% by 1994.
—Isabella Elias, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
There’s not a lot of visible output of the meeting—that doesn’t mean that nothing happened—but one of the things that was visible was a remarkable weakening of the American line on Taiwan.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The measles virus can result in long-term damage, including a weakening of children’s immune systems.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
There has to be a weakening of the regime.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Environmental groups have warned that weakening protections could further endanger a species already on the brink.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Also, the evidence points to a weakening of the AMOC, but not a complete collapse.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2026
Second, some worry that some of the financial safeguards and market disciplines developed after previous crises may be weakening.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
The ability to raise cash may leave the strategy underinvested after major market selloffs, but Brown said the trade-off helps avoid owning weakening stocks simply to remain fully invested.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 30 May 2026
In 1966, an extension of Arkansas 213 was completed, better connecting the citizens to other towns and weakening the importance of local businesses.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
In Tyre, long held up by locals as a model of coexistence among Lebanon’s various sects, Israeli occupation and bombardment were not weakening Hezbollah’s case for its weapons.
—Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
But women, who have higher rates of GLP-1 treatment use than men, may at be at heightened risk of bone weakening during menopause, when bone loss naturally accelerates.
—Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Both pledge to end negotiations, blaming Petro’s approach for weakening the state and emboldening armed groups.
—Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Eleven Indiana House districts – three of them in Porter County – have been targeted by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the Indiana House Democratic Caucus as crucial for weakening the Republican supermajority in the Indiana General Assembly.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Noun
This weakening of currency, combined with inflated jet fuel prices, has also led to one of the country’s major airlines, Air India, to cancel more than a quarter of its international flights between June and August.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Wall Street’s primary concern is competition from Anthropic and OpenAI weakening demand and pricing power for its customer relationship management software, which for years drove robust growth at high margins.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
However, beginning in 1989, the weakening and eventual fall of the Soviet Union marked a return to energy insecurity, and electricity produced in Cuba fell by 25% by 1994.
—Isabella Elias, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
There’s not a lot of visible output of the meeting—that doesn’t mean that nothing happened—but one of the things that was visible was a remarkable weakening of the American line on Taiwan.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The measles virus can result in long-term damage, including a weakening of children’s immune systems.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
There has to be a weakening of the regime.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Environmental groups have warned that weakening protections could further endanger a species already on the brink.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Also, the evidence points to a weakening of the AMOC, but not a complete collapse.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at the last minute despite being originally scheduled to play, further weakening the field.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2026
Second, some worry that some of the financial safeguards and market disciplines developed after previous crises may be weakening.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
The ability to raise cash may leave the strategy underinvested after major market selloffs, but Brown said the trade-off helps avoid owning weakening stocks simply to remain fully invested.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 30 May 2026
In 1966, an extension of Arkansas 213 was completed, better connecting the citizens to other towns and weakening the importance of local businesses.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
In Tyre, long held up by locals as a model of coexistence among Lebanon’s various sects, Israeli occupation and bombardment were not weakening Hezbollah’s case for its weapons.
—Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
But women, who have higher rates of GLP-1 treatment use than men, may at be at heightened risk of bone weakening during menopause, when bone loss naturally accelerates.
—Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Both pledge to end negotiations, blaming Petro’s approach for weakening the state and emboldening armed groups.
—Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Eleven Indiana House districts – three of them in Porter County – have been targeted by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the Indiana House Democratic Caucus as crucial for weakening the Republican supermajority in the Indiana General Assembly.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
Noun
-
The global public square has been getting coarser for years, and social media has played a big part in the deterioration.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
The damage required removal of the affected portion in hopes of preventing further deterioration.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Others are voluntarily asking to see more patients because the most draining and time-consuming parts of their job are now handled by AI.—
FJ Campbell,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
-
Already carrying wider spans of control and shrinking development support, a manager operating against an outdated role definition is doing something more draining than managing a heavy workload.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
With inflation surging, wages softening and borrowing costs high thanks to elevated interest rates, the incentive to protect this money is particularly strong now.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
But softening Republican support on specific policy matters — including top voter priorities, such as the economy — have begun raising questions among experts whether further erosion is possible.—
Ana Ceballos,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
At Eau Bar during early sunset, spring for a poolside lounger to catch a soul-stirring ceremony of bodu beru drummers walking the edge of a circular infinity pool, torch-lighting a fire ring backed by a fading horizon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
The components might be familiar—guitars that sound like they’re played through a busted Zenith TV at full volume, heavy acoustic strumming à la ’90s folk-grunge group Days of the New, Slocum’s fading read-out of a voice—but they’re all pulled into slightly unusual shapes.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
In his letter, Markey said using surplus plutonium to produce energy would be significantly more expensive than diluting and disposing of it — the method the federal government was previously using to deal with the waste.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Last quarter , the narrative against Palo Alto Networks was all its dealmaking was diluting earnings too much.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the third, and most debilitating, patients withdraw from the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Cobain had struggled for years with depression, substance abuse issues and a debilitating, unexplained stomach ailment.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a raft of landmark rule changes that will come into force ahead of this summer’s World Cup, with the overarching objectives being to tackle discrimination, cut time-wasting, increase match tempo and improve fan and player experience.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Getting warships into the water is hard enough without wasting funds on vessels unlikely ever to sail.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
And a photo attached to a city inspection conducted just days before the collapse for a pending litter case showed the exterior of the building apparently in poor condition with the roof visibly sagging.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
-
Morale among the men was sagging, as well.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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