weaken

[wee-kuhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to make weak or weaker.

   Synonyms: invalidate, minimize, impair, reduce, lower, diminish, lessen, deplete, exhaust, sap, undermine, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble
   Antonyms: strengthen

2. Phonetics.,  to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring less effort, as from geminate to nongeminate or from stop to fricative.

verb (used without object)

1. to become weak or weaker.

   Synonyms: sap, undermine, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble, invalidate, minimize, impair, reduce, lower, diminish, lessen, deplete, exhaust
   Antonyms: strengthen

weaken

/ ˈwiːkən /

verb

1. to become or cause to become weak or weaker

Other Word Forms

• weakener noun
• reweaken verb
• unweakened adjective
• unweakening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weaken¹

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -en ¹

Example Sentences

"No evil propaganda video will weaken us or divert us from our determination to achieve these goals," the statement said.

From BBC

When asked about the “weakening job market” on Fox News, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer acknowledged the report findings, but said the data was still “positive.”

From Salon

The US jobs market weakened further in August, raising new fears about the health of the world's largest economy.

From BBC

With such vaccines, called whole-virus vaccines, a person’s immune system is presented with the whole virus, often in weakened or inactivated form.

From Salon

There is the added element of it weakening PSG - a big rival to Lyon, who are one of the other clubs owned by Kang.

From BBC

Related Words

• abate 
• decline 
• decrease 
• depress 
• dilute 
• diminish 
• dwindle 
• halt 
• impair 
• lessen 
• lower 
• reduce 
• sap 
• soften 
• undermine 
• wane