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
Related Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakening
Nelly Carreno, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The new business frontiers do not indicate a weakening in the AP’s standards of providing fast, accurate, non-biased news, leaders said.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Other human rights groups warn of a weakening of legal protections.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Higher energy prices are also expected to widen India’s current account deficit, which has contributed to a weakening of the local currency, with the rupee touching record lows in recent days.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
The chief result of the plot was the disgrace of Charles Albert and a temporary weakening of the normally anti-Austrian trend in Piedmontese policy.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This led to a 34-day war, the loss of 1,000 civilian lives, the weakening of Lebanon’s economy and significant damages to its infrastructure.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
The state is seeing a weakening of its oil industry, and increasing challenges for its refineries to remain open due to environmental concerns, according to a Daily Breeze report on Monday, March 2.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 2026
However, some Democrats warn against weakening their candidates when facing a Republican Party that’s flush with cash.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
However, some Democrats warn against weakening their candidates when facing a Republican Party that's flush with cash.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Years of the petrodollar’s weakening grasp The petrodollar’s weakness has been quietly exposed for even years prior to Saudi Arabia’s currency swap with China.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
But those safeguards appear to be weakening.
—Jennifer Elias,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
The conspiratorial thinking that blossoms in the manosphere blames Jewish men for weakening masculinity.
—Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The big difference between the two situations, of course, is that Christian was a third wheel in the DvG trio, but taking out Rick would be getting rid of his biggest ally in the game, thereby severely weakening his position.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
However, rejecting the goal of citizenship verification altogether risks weakening public confidence in the system.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
On Saturday, storm chances increase, especially west of DFW, but some weakening is possible as storms move east.
—Nelly Carreno, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The new business frontiers do not indicate a weakening in the AP’s standards of providing fast, accurate, non-biased news, leaders said.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Other human rights groups warn of a weakening of legal protections.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Higher energy prices are also expected to widen India’s current account deficit, which has contributed to a weakening of the local currency, with the rupee touching record lows in recent days.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
The chief result of the plot was the disgrace of Charles Albert and a temporary weakening of the normally anti-Austrian trend in Piedmontese policy.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This led to a 34-day war, the loss of 1,000 civilian lives, the weakening of Lebanon’s economy and significant damages to its infrastructure.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
The state is seeing a weakening of its oil industry, and increasing challenges for its refineries to remain open due to environmental concerns, according to a Daily Breeze report on Monday, March 2.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
However, the brand has seen month-on-month declines in sales since September 2025, pointing to weakening momentum in its core NEV lineup.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 2026
However, some Democrats warn against weakening their candidates when facing a Republican Party that’s flush with cash.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
However, some Democrats warn against weakening their candidates when facing a Republican Party that's flush with cash.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Years of the petrodollar’s weakening grasp The petrodollar’s weakness has been quietly exposed for even years prior to Saudi Arabia’s currency swap with China.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
But those safeguards appear to be weakening.
—Jennifer Elias,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
The conspiratorial thinking that blossoms in the manosphere blames Jewish men for weakening masculinity.
—Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The big difference between the two situations, of course, is that Christian was a third wheel in the DvG trio, but taking out Rick would be getting rid of his biggest ally in the game, thereby severely weakening his position.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
However, rejecting the goal of citizenship verification altogether risks weakening public confidence in the system.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
Noun
-
Still, any miscalculation or direct confrontation at sea could tip the diplomatic posturing into rapid deterioration and risk jeopardizing the fragile stability in the detente between Washington and Beijing.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Toss any berries showing signs of deterioration.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
-
By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While even beauty sales are softening, that impulse hasn’t disappeared.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
They are best suited for improving skin texture, softening fine lines and enhancing product absorption, allowing serums and treatments to penetrate more effectively.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As in this moisturizing CeraVe cream, beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) is able to penetrate past superficial layers to turn skin into a smooth canvas while fading age spots and hyperpigmentation.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The letters are printed on the sides of the keys rather than the top, which prevents fading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What’s more, the suit alleges that management and company affiliates enriched themselves — through operating fees, development fees, property-management and leasing fees, reimbursements and insider-favoring transactions — while diluting investor equity.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ratings often split between broadcasts, diluting the audience rather than expanding it.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Cobain had struggled for years with depression, substance abuse issues and a debilitating, unexplained stomach ailment.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Living with long COVID Long COVID is often very debilitating, Walkes said.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
American greatness isn’t achieved by wasting money on a bloated military budget.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
-
These layers don’t work seamlessly, wasting energy at every boundary.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Minnesota’s best defensive strategy against Jokic in past playoff trips has involved sagging off a Denver non-shooter to supply additional help onto the superstar big man.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The front glass had been blown out, a support beam knocked askew and ceiling panels sagging inside.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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