weaken

verb

weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening
ˈwēk-niŋ,
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
; weakens

transitive verb

1
: to make weak : lessen the strength of
2
: to reduce in intensity or effectiveness

intransitive verb

: to become weak
weakener
ˈwēk-nər
ˈwē-kə- How to pronounce weaken (audio)
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for weaken

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor.

weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

Examples of weaken in a Sentence

The disease weakens the immune system. Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy. The beams had been weakened by water damage. efforts to weaken environmental laws The recent setbacks have not weakened our resolve. These kinds of contradictions weaken your argument. The disease causes the immune system to weaken. The dollar has continued to weaken against the euro. Lower interest rates have weakened the dollar.
Recent Examples on the Web But a memo sent in fall 2023 to car dealers across the US, obtained by CNN, gives an insight into just how determined the company is to weaken the US government’s EV policies. Angela Dewan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 The Yemeni forces fighting alongside the coalition were weakened by factional divisions and corruption. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 While the Court’s decision to allow more human rights cases to go forward is commendable, the Court’s rules now invite politicized lawsuits that may harm the Court’s legitimacy—and weaken international law. Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The campaign seems crafted to stoke outrage and polarization before the 2024 election for the White House, and experts who study Russian disinformation say Americans can expect more to come as Mr. Putin looks to weaken support for Ukraine and cut off a vital supply of aid. David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 With Israel's refusal to allow in more aid, famine has descended on a population already weakened by five months of war. Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 For Western business executives and other observers, the perception that the country is corrupt could weaken support for the fight against Russia. Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Too many or too-big holes could weaken a shell to its breaking point, so structural factors might limit which eyes are possible. Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 India had shown some cracks having lost a Test match to Australia last year, just their third in almost 50 matches, and entered this series weakened without talisman Virat Kohli and several other high-profile players. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weaken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of weaken was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near weaken

Cite this Entry

“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaken. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

weaken

verb
weak·​en ˈwē-kən How to pronounce weaken (audio)
weakened; weakening ˈwēk-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce weaken (audio)
: to make or become weak or weaker

More from Merriam-Webster on weaken

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