1
as in softens
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fades
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 dilutes
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 weakens
When foreign investors pull money out of the country, demand for the rupiah drops, and the currency weakens.
—
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 22 June 2026
Every interaction either builds confidence or weakens it.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
When sunlight weakens, the system cools down and draws less current.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Tropical Storm Arthur weakens, but flood threat remains Tropical Storm Arthur on Wednesday.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 18 June 2026
The screenplay grows more complex and rewarding as the central relationship weakens, effectively forcing Sonya to deal with her exhausting boyfriend (Levon Hawke) and pushing Coley to connect with her father who, for whatever reason, spends a lot of time hand-making turquoise jewelry.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Restricting those channels weakens influence competitors have struggled to match.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Iran’s government warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position, and that those criticizing negotiators are taking aim at a national decision.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
There was also apparent friction inside Iran in the hours before the announcement, as the government earlier Sunday warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 22 June 2026
Every interaction either builds confidence or weakens it.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
When sunlight weakens, the system cools down and draws less current.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Tropical Storm Arthur weakens, but flood threat remains Tropical Storm Arthur on Wednesday.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 18 June 2026
The screenplay grows more complex and rewarding as the central relationship weakens, effectively forcing Sonya to deal with her exhausting boyfriend (Levon Hawke) and pushing Coley to connect with her father who, for whatever reason, spends a lot of time hand-making turquoise jewelry.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Restricting those channels weakens influence competitors have struggled to match.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Iran’s government warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position, and that those criticizing negotiators are taking aim at a national decision.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
There was also apparent friction inside Iran in the hours before the announcement, as the government earlier Sunday warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
-
General Daily Insight for June 16, 2026 Gentle energy softens edges and opens kind choices.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
16 June 2026
-
Virgo August 23 – September 22 When heart softens, career surprises feel workable.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
But eventually, the party fades, and the album turns inward.—
Maria Nenet Barrios,
Pitchfork,
18 June 2026
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The app automatically filters content using quality scores derived from user behavior, so better-quality content is likely to rise to the top, whereas poor-quality content fades away.—
Jill Duffy,
PC Magazine,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Alphabet went the other way and issued stock, which dilutes existing shareholders but adds no fixed interest bill to meet whether or not the AI bet pays off.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Among other changes, the new law dilutes some of the influence the mayor of Chicago has over the executive appointment process at the CTA, which has been led for more than a year by an acting president, Nora Leerhsen.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
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As a result, the tournament typically sags in the middle, as neither comes close to losing.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
The roof flakes, the porch sags.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While at Johns Hopkins, Roizman and two colleagues discovered the respiratory syncytial virus, which infects lungs and the respiratory tract.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
While the Andes hantavirus infects a few dozen people every year in the Patagonian region of Argentina further north, it has never been detected in Ushuaia or the wider archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Tapping into the sporting zeitgeist, the slapstick animation, sees Daffy Duck confounded when Elmer Fudd fails to turn up for duck hunting season.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
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An extended car warranty can save electric vehicle (EV) owners thousands of dollars when a critical component, such as an electric motor or battery management system, fails unexpectedly.—
Emily Mercer,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Verb
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If the state rules hold, an insurer using AI to price your annuity or your motor cover has to test that model for unfair effects and answer for it; if the rules fall, or freeze under federal pressure, that obligation thins out, and the model goes back to being a box only the insurer can see inside.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
Instead a galaxy’s distribution of stars thins out farther from the center.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
Verb
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How deep that review goes, experts said, will largely depend on what investigators find on the ground.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
McGarry, while supportive of the county's initial steps, remains skeptical that the ordinance goes far enough to protect the most vulnerable residents.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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