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
When CEOs treat financial advice as a substitute for judgment, leadership starts to erode, decisions slow down, and conviction weakens.
—
Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere — as a show of might that weakens China’s geostrategic influence, Nikkei wrote.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
If support evaporates, enlistment drops or compliance weakens as the state loses leverage.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
When enforcement weakens or support erodes, accountability inevitably follows tragedy.
—Christina Diaz, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
The dryer weakens the delicate threads and the motion can cause tears and snags.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Rockwell understood that democracy weakens when leaders become symbols rather than participants.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere — as a show of might that weakens China’s geostrategic influence, Nikkei wrote.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
If support evaporates, enlistment drops or compliance weakens as the state loses leverage.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
When enforcement weakens or support erodes, accountability inevitably follows tragedy.
—Christina Diaz, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
The dryer weakens the delicate threads and the motion can cause tears and snags.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Rockwell understood that democracy weakens when leaders become symbols rather than participants.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
Verb
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How the room softens, how people exhale, how laughter drifts back in and the air feels lighter.—
Adrianne Wright,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
-
October 23 – November 21 Intensity softens when truth gets air.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That relatively minor problem fades into the background when he’s suddenly called back to his hometown to raise an estranged teenage daughter (Hannah Elise Adolfsen Fjeldbraaten) who doesn’t want to know him.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
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For most people, the effect is mild and fades as your body processes the caffeine.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The judge said one district dilutes the votes of Blacks and Latinos.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Democrats have pointed to these facts as evidence that the map dilutes the voting power of minorities and may even be an intentional racial gerrymander.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Queen of minimalism, Janet has essentially just set type in panels—but the way the background sags like a deflating hot-air balloon, with the type recessed into it, is so wry and brilliant.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Listeria infects approximately 1,250 people in the United States annually, by CDC estimate, and kills about 172.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Listeria infects about 1,600 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Shift from Profit to Purpose While most companies are in the business of making money, history shows that greed as a business strategy often fails.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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And if all else fails, throw a boneless rib eye or skirt steak in the freezer until firm and use a sharp knife to slice it yourself.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Meetings stay calm, but the substance thins.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There goes his liver, Rachel thought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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But with the June primary ballot deadline rapidly approaching, the delay likely nixes the possibility of the city amending its own tax before a possible statewide measure goes before voters.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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