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
Blocking them causes disruption to the cells’ energy-generating mitochondria and leads to oxidative stress, which further weakens cancer.
—
Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even as the storm weakens over Baja California, its tropical moisture will continue to drift north, fueling intense downpours and possible flooding across the Southwest.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Broken heart syndrome, which is more formally known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, occurs when the heart muscle weakens temporarily and causes similar serious health concerns to those of a heart attack.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
That’s a three-year gap that may require retirees to withdraw a much larger percentage of their portfolio to cover, leaving them open to greater risk if the market weakens significantly.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Partner at NewVest Ariel Ezrahi In such an environment, expanding retail-facing funds becomes an appealing lever, providing access to fresh money even as the traditional institutional pipeline weakens, private-equity players told CNBC.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
The withdrawal of the US from UNESCO weakens the country’s ability to participate in key discussions on technology, education, heritage, and science, argue development experts Anne Campbell and Emily Markovich Morris in an article for the Brookings think tank.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2025
Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even as the storm weakens over Baja California, its tropical moisture will continue to drift north, fueling intense downpours and possible flooding across the Southwest.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Broken heart syndrome, which is more formally known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, occurs when the heart muscle weakens temporarily and causes similar serious health concerns to those of a heart attack.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
That’s a three-year gap that may require retirees to withdraw a much larger percentage of their portfolio to cover, leaving them open to greater risk if the market weakens significantly.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Partner at NewVest Ariel Ezrahi In such an environment, expanding retail-facing funds becomes an appealing lever, providing access to fresh money even as the traditional institutional pipeline weakens, private-equity players told CNBC.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
The withdrawal of the US from UNESCO weakens the country’s ability to participate in key discussions on technology, education, heritage, and science, argue development experts Anne Campbell and Emily Markovich Morris in an article for the Brookings think tank.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
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The hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s where Logano’s optimism fades.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Tailgating Tips Getting it Right Clemson’s shady campus is leafy and green in August and September, turning red and gold as summer fades to fall.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yes, growth is tempting — launching podcasts, videos, new products — but every expansion dilutes focus.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
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The map, which is awaiting Kehoe’s signature, dilutes Kansas City-area voters into three Republican-leaning districts.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria infects 1,250 people per year in the United States, 172 of which are killed by the infection.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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This is the enzyme that infects and spreads.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The defense also contends that Trump, as a public figure, must show actual malice—proof that the Journal knew its reporting was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth—and that the complaint fails to do so.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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The latest changes—and what might come next Advertisement The 2025 civics test is similar to the 2020 one, except officers will only be required to ask questions until the applicant either passes or fails the test.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fatigue sets in, your patience thins, and suddenly, the thought of heading home sounds irresistible.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 Oct. 2025
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But below Heiskanen, the depth still thins out significantly.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Same goes for their boss, Jason Kidd.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
These two puzzles are both relevant to the fundamental properties and constituents of the Universe, but as far as the resolution goes, that will have to await our scientific future.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But to isolate gold, galamsey workers typically use poisonous mercury, which pollutes drinking water and farmland and has been linked to serious illness and birth defects.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
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Debris pollutes waterways, cooking fires may spread, and the District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly documented how homeless residents are more likely to be victims of crime.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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