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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakening
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Affordability has become a potent political issue, especially with the job market weakening.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Jewish and civil rights groups blasted the move as weakening safeguards, fueling criticism that Mamdani’s early agenda signals hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Any weakening of Section 2's current redistricting provisions also puts at risk representation by other racial and ethnic minorities and at lower levels of government.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
While the economy has been resilient for the most part, any weakening in 2026 could have an outsize effect on more price-sensitive consumers and, therefore, airlines that are more exposed to coach-class domestic travel, like lower-cost carriers.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
One is the weakening of the American economy.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
As previously reported by The Center Square, the most recent report showed the state’s job market weakening, with a loss of 2,000 jobs and more people leaving the labor force.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
Each company may believe that silence is the safest strategy, but the collective effect is a weakening of institutions that strengthen democracy and the economy.
—Andrew Winston, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 9 Jan. 2026
This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Oversupply and weakening consumer demand have been causing milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at the grocery store to fall slightly.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Battalions were reassigned from Zulia, Barinas and Miranda states, weakening local military structures to reinforce the presidential core.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
This destabilizes the landscape, weakening steep slopes and damaging critical infrastructure.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Both years were considered La Niña phases, but 2026's La Niña is weakening, thus the warmer-than-normal weather.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026
In Venezuela, after years of government restrictions weakening independent media, citizens rely on social platforms, international outlets and a shrinking number of local journalists for uncensored information.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
South Africa’s rand is on track for its biggest annual jump in 16 years, as policy reforms compounded with a weakening dollar drew investors to Africa’s biggest economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
Developers are divided about how much this signals a weakening of what has been a scorchingly hot market for new multifamily housing.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Affordability has become a potent political issue, especially with the job market weakening.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Jewish and civil rights groups blasted the move as weakening safeguards, fueling criticism that Mamdani’s early agenda signals hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Any weakening of Section 2's current redistricting provisions also puts at risk representation by other racial and ethnic minorities and at lower levels of government.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
While the economy has been resilient for the most part, any weakening in 2026 could have an outsize effect on more price-sensitive consumers and, therefore, airlines that are more exposed to coach-class domestic travel, like lower-cost carriers.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
One is the weakening of the American economy.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
As previously reported by The Center Square, the most recent report showed the state’s job market weakening, with a loss of 2,000 jobs and more people leaving the labor force.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
Each company may believe that silence is the safest strategy, but the collective effect is a weakening of institutions that strengthen democracy and the economy.
—Andrew Winston, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 9 Jan. 2026
This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Oversupply and weakening consumer demand have been causing milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at the grocery store to fall slightly.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Battalions were reassigned from Zulia, Barinas and Miranda states, weakening local military structures to reinforce the presidential core.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
This destabilizes the landscape, weakening steep slopes and damaging critical infrastructure.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Both years were considered La Niña phases, but 2026's La Niña is weakening, thus the warmer-than-normal weather.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026
In Venezuela, after years of government restrictions weakening independent media, citizens rely on social platforms, international outlets and a shrinking number of local journalists for uncensored information.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
South Africa’s rand is on track for its biggest annual jump in 16 years, as policy reforms compounded with a weakening dollar drew investors to Africa’s biggest economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
Noun
-
Footage of the bunker’s deterioration has attracted global attention after Robinson and Charlton began posting videos online.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
-
It is intended to slow the deterioration of streets that currently are in good condition, which is considered vital to improving the overall condition of San Diego’s network of roads, according to the city.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 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
-
Each of the eight luxurious scents is packed with softening coconut oil and shea butter.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Fischer especially recommends making sound-softening updates in rooms with higher ceilings, open layouts, and hardwood flooring, all of which can amplify echo and reverb.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But her role as fading movie star Kay Stone in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, opposite Timothée Chalamet, marks her grand return.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The days of underground stashes and whispered conversations are fading fast.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Olympics’ ability to spread itself out without diluting its iconic character will be worth following all February long.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The smell will fade overtime as the blinds begin to dry, but diluting vinegar with water helps minimize the potency of the scent.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The scientists set out to investigate a debilitating and lethal parasite that’s been plaguing monarchs.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Or, the first generation simply declined from senescence and the debilitating effects of power long exercised without check.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Don’t bother wasting your money—using it more than once a day won’t yield ‘better’ or faster results.—
Ali Pantony,
Glamour,
9 Jan. 2026
-
People become paralyzed by choice and the risk of wasting time on something bad.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pull your stomach inward toward the spine and hold this position without sagging hips or arching your back.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Fed has cut interest rates at each of its last three meetings, in an effort to shore up a sagging job market.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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