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
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.
—
Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Justice delayed weakens deterrence.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 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, 27 Mar. 2026
Samara Martínez has written countless letters to the illness that weakens her body.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Reducing support for nurse training puts entire communities at risk and weakens vital services, including documentation of abuse that can be essential for domestic violence legal proceedings.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
The results revealed that dendrites grow more rapidly under lower stress, showing that the material actually weakens during operation.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Environmental advocates worry this decision weakens the Clean Air Act and benefits industry at the expense of public health.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
That limits air movement, reduces water infiltration, restricts root growth, and weakens biological activity.
—Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Justice delayed weakens deterrence.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 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, 27 Mar. 2026
Samara Martínez has written countless letters to the illness that weakens her body.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Reducing support for nurse training puts entire communities at risk and weakens vital services, including documentation of abuse that can be essential for domestic violence legal proceedings.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
The results revealed that dendrites grow more rapidly under lower stress, showing that the material actually weakens during operation.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Environmental advocates worry this decision weakens the Clean Air Act and benefits industry at the expense of public health.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
That limits air movement, reduces water infiltration, restricts root growth, and weakens biological activity.
—Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
-
Early conversations about money, time, or care may feel stretchy, but clarity softens bumps as the day unfolds.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
By the end of the month, the mood softens as the sun enters Taurus, bringing the focus back to friendships, collaborations and long-term dreams.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The animation is crisp and gorgeous, and there are a few moments of stylization — such as when the main character Coco floats in the air with her mentor Qifrey and the world around them fades from frame — that captures a taste of what makes the manga such a visual triumph.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Most regular solo diners say discomfort fades after the first few times trying it.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But as the Universe keeps on expanding, the spatial curvature still dilutes, the same way that a small Pringles chip has a greater amount of curvature than a large horse’s saddle.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
No measurable impact on marine life or the local environment was detected, as the radioactive material dilutes rapidly in seawater.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The roof flakes, the porch sags.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
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The former is caused by bacteria that infects the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to inflammation.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Mumps infects the salivary glands below the ears.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But, elsewhere in Cook County, property taxes are what school districts must turn to when the state fails to support public education at the level most other states do.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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Then, an ultrasound mid-way through pregnancy showed that her baby had anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull fails to develop properly.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Rangers will need to carry Baumler on the major league roster for the entire season, or send him back to the Baltimore Orioles, which thins some of their flexibility.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
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And over time, the barrage will likely become less effective and more deadly to civilians – as the target list thins out and the items the Americans and Israelis need to hit become more enmeshed in civilian life.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Hence, as the thinking goes, Zendaya’s thrall-like popularity with Gen Z and millennial viewers will act as an antidote to bad buzz.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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