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
Privacy advocates argue that any ambiguity around storage or deletion timelines weakens public confidence.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Sending young people far from home weakens support systems and makes outcomes worse.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Loyalty programs generate billions of dollars annually from banks and help cushion carriers when ticket demand weakens, giving airlines an incentive to reward cardholders and elite travelers.
—Sri Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Cutting the International Affairs Budget (which includes USAID) weakens our global leadership and can leave preventable crises to become a problem later on.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
That pattern weakens the polar vortex’s grip on cold air, allowing Arctic air to spill into the central and southern United States.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
When the water freezes and expands, the road surface weakens, which causes potholes to form.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
When the vortex weakens, that tight circle becomes wavier, akin to how a slow-moving river tends to meander in bends across the landscape, Swain says.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
Anything that weakens fibers can worsen pilling.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Sending young people far from home weakens support systems and makes outcomes worse.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Loyalty programs generate billions of dollars annually from banks and help cushion carriers when ticket demand weakens, giving airlines an incentive to reward cardholders and elite travelers.
—Sri Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Cutting the International Affairs Budget (which includes USAID) weakens our global leadership and can leave preventable crises to become a problem later on.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
That pattern weakens the polar vortex’s grip on cold air, allowing Arctic air to spill into the central and southern United States.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
When the water freezes and expands, the road surface weakens, which causes potholes to form.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
When the vortex weakens, that tight circle becomes wavier, akin to how a slow-moving river tends to meander in bends across the landscape, Swain says.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
Anything that weakens fibers can worsen pilling.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
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The cleaning pro explains that the oil softens the adhesive in sticky messes, and the baking soda provides some gentle scrubbing ability.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
25 Feb. 2026
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Over the past year, sellers received about 97% of original list price on average, though that figure typically softens during winter months.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Too often where outrage follows an incident, statements are issued before attention fades.—
Joseph Potasnik,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
As cedar pollen fades, a new wave of allergens is ready to take its place.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Emma Basch, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, agrees, expressing concern that tying self-care to allowance dilutes the concept and does not help kids internalize that caring for themselves is not a job they will ever be paid for, but a way of showing themselves respect and care.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The judge said one district dilutes the votes of Blacks and Latinos.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their constant companion in the campaign is the Amazona 180 bag that made its debut on the Loewe runway last October, a slouchy, one-handle style that sags open when left unzipped.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Unlike your average and typical pillow that sags over time, this one has hotel-like appeal because of its precise border for a structured, refined look.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Lung, stomach and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of the cases that were linked to modifiable risks, with many linked to viruses and bacteria like the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori (a common bacterium that infects the stomach lining).—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And if Congress fails to renew these tariffs by roughly August, the bank calculates nominal tariff levels would plummet to the mid-single digits, around 6% to 7%.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Woods fails to notice a ball mark in the line of his 4-foot birdie putt that would have won his third-round match against Nick O’Hern.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Civic life thins out because exhaustion replaces engagement.—
Christopher Bellingham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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Just an hour later, the traffic thins and the road dissolves into the Agafay Desert.—
Fergus Scholes,
TheWeek,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The texture is rich, so a little goes a long way; use a spatula to keep things hygienic and scoop out the necessary amount.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
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Other properties show extremely low average rents — in some cases under $1,000 per month — while 30% or more of that rent goes directly to property taxes.—
Kenny Burgos,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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