WEAKENS Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

weakens

verb

Definition of weakens next

present tense third-person singular of weaken

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

as in fades

to lose bodily strength or vigor the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 weakens The exit of thousands of DOJ lawyers weakens law enforcement for many years to come, former DOJ lawyers told USA TODAY. —

Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 Abbott contends the policy weakens statewide coordination with federal authorities. —

Jack Fink, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 In the first, the conflict lasts another two months, oil prices average close to $100 a barrel, and the rand weakens by about 5%. —

Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 17 Apr. 2026 Dim the Lights Earlier in the Evening The lighting level in your home in the hours before bed has a direct effect on melatonin production, which weakens with age regardless. —

Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026 Even if the petrodollar weakens, dollar dominance still rests on other factors that other currencies can’t match, according to Paul Blustein, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. —

Jason Ma, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026 When asked to comment, Apple pointed to previous statements, saying that the DMA discourages innovation, weakens privacy protections, delays or degrades product launches and increases security risks. —

Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 Just seven days’ exposure to shipping noise weakens the immune systems of blue mussels; but a process called acoustic enrichment, broadcasting the sound of a healthy reef, can attract marine life back to a bleached one, restitching the acoustic fabric of an entire ecosystem. —

Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 If oil prices stay high and keep upward pressure on inflation, the Federal Reserve would have a tough time resuming its cuts to interest rates to help the slowing economy, even if the job market weakens. —

Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens

Verb

There’s an adjustment period — percale can feel crisp at first — but most people acclimate within a week or two and find cotton softens further with every wash, rather than pilling or degrading like synthetics.

— Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Many types of seeds benefit from soaking in room temperature water before planting, which softens the outer covering and allows the seed germ to break through easier.

— Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026