1
as in softens
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
As complexity rises, decisions fragment, priorities shift and trust weakens.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.
—Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
When the audience relationship weakens, the asset can erode quickly.
—Lin Cherry, Fortune, 17 May 2026
When divisions deepen at home, leadership abroad weakens.
—Patrick Mendis, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
But the weakening of that regime weakens the proxies as well.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said the report weakens the case for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts because the labor market remains stable.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 8 May 2026
Long-term moisture exposure weakens wood, drywall and subflooring over time — and mold often grows alongside that damage.
—Ryan Brennan
may 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
And that in turn weakens Arne Slot’s position as head coach, because the Dutchman was a Hughes appointment.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.
—Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
When the audience relationship weakens, the asset can erode quickly.
—Lin Cherry, Fortune, 17 May 2026
When divisions deepen at home, leadership abroad weakens.
—Patrick Mendis, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
But the weakening of that regime weakens the proxies as well.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said the report weakens the case for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts because the labor market remains stable.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 8 May 2026
Long-term moisture exposure weakens wood, drywall and subflooring over time — and mold often grows alongside that damage.
—Ryan Brennan
may 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
And that in turn weakens Arne Slot’s position as head coach, because the Dutchman was a Hughes appointment.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
-
Soaking sunflower seeds before planting can help with germination as this method softens the naturally hard outer layer of the seed.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
-
That, with a lime-wash plaster on accent walls, breathes and softens the acoustics of a small footprint.—
Amy Kunst,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Ducks’ top line fades The Ducks’ top line of Leo Carlsson centering Chris Kreider and Troy Terry had a quiet ending to the series after a very productive opening round against Edmonton.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
In terms of where to beach, wide stretches of sand in Beach Haven remain some of the Jersey Shore’s most desirable, drawing surfers at sunrise, families hauling coolers and striped umbrellas by midday, and sunset walkers lingering until the sky fades pink over the dunes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Cynical congressional map dilutes Black voting power to target a kingmaker.—
Kathleen Parker,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
-
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 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
-
According to PetMD, Salmonella infects the gastrointestinal tract of pets.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
One point public health officials have repeatedly emphasized is that hantavirus normally infects people who come into contact with urine or droppings from infected rats.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Over time, blood vessels begin leaking, leading to bleeding, blood pressure can drop, blood fails to reach different parts of the body and the kidneys can fail.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Why polarization holds where charge fails Ferroelectricity refers to the ability of certain materials to maintain a permanent, spontaneous electric polarization.—
Deena Theresa,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In a traditional Japanese handle, a wa-style handle, the tang thins out into a strip of metal that’s completely buried in a cylindrical or octagonal wood handle.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Steam thins mucus and eases congestion, per the same PMC/NIH trial.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lady Louise, who is studying English at St Andrew’s University in Scotland, has been helping ensure that the four-day show goes smoothly and has a good royal turnout.—
Katie Nicholl,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist who contributed to the research, said the index builds on foundational well-being models but goes further.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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