Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense weakens, present participle weakening, past tense, past participle weakened
1. verb
If you weaken something or if it weakens, it becomes less strong or less powerful.
The recession has weakened so many firms that many can no longer survive. [VERB noun]
The Prime Minister's opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened. [VERB noun]
Family structures are weakening and breaking up. [VERB]
Synonyms: wane, fail, diminish, dwindle More Synonyms of weaken
2. verb
If your resolve weakens or if something weakens it, you become less determined or less certain about taking a particular course of action that you had previously decided to take.
I looked at the list and felt my resolve weakening. [VERB]
Jennie weakened, and finally relented. [VERB]
The verdict hasn't weakened his resolve to fight the charges against him. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If something weakens you, it causes you to lose some of your physical strength.
Malnutrition obviously weakens the patient. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: sap the strength of, tire, exhaust, debilitate More Synonyms of weaken
4. verb
If something weakens an object, it does something to it which causes it to become less firm and more likely to break.
A bomb blast had weakened an area of brick on the back wall. [VERB noun]
Never dry underwear over direct heat; it will weaken the fabric. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of weaken
weaken in British English
(ˈwiːkən)
verb
to become or cause to become weak or weaker
Derived forms
weakener (ˈweakener)
noun
weaken in American English
(ˈwikən)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
to make or become weak or weaker
SYNONYMY NOTE: weaken, the most general of these words, implies a lessening of strength, power, soundness,etc. [weakened by disease, to weaken an argument]; debilitate suggests a partial or temporary weakening, as by disease or dissipation [debilitated by alcoholic excesses]; enervate implies a lessening of force, vigor, energy, etc., as through indulgence in luxury[enervated by idleness]; undermine, sap1 both suggest a weakening or impairing by subtle or stealthy means [authority undermined by rumors, strength sapped by disease]
OPPOSITES: strengthen, energize
Derived forms
weakener (ˈweakener)
noun
Examples of 'weaken' in a sentence
weaken
That would weaken an already feeble opposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This policy both boosts your team and weakens your rival.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The department also weakened the curbs it did introduce.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The currency had already been weakened after China carried out the biggest devaluation in two decades last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And when her resolve weakened after he died, it was his memory that got her back on track.
The Sun (2017)
The union boss added the aim of the bribes was'to try to weaken the resolve of the union '.
The Sun (2016)
But you simply do not weaken your side when faced with a game you have to win to stand a chance of progressing in the Champions League.
The Sun (2016)
Iran also comes away weakened from the vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their lack is the biggest gap in our economic statistics and seriously weakens all economic policy.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
This terrible incident will not weaken the resolve of the men and women serving on the frontline.
The Sun (2012)
No chance that either side will take this lightly or field intentionally weakened teams.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But that influence is fatally weakened if government fingerprints are all over it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Now my right side is weakening as well.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Her resolve was weakening and her debts mounting.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It can strengthen the belief in one side and weaken it in the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This may be explained by the fact that their present theoretical perspective has major shortcomings which seriously weaken the abolitionist case.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
The militia has been seriously weakened.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The Inca had already been weakened by civil war.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Conservatives may worry that aggressive deficit reduction will further weaken an already limp recovery in the South.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Evidence of a recent softening of the British economy also could weaken tax receipts.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Of course, all teams will be weakened if you take out their best players.
The Sun (2015)
It was a satisfactory ending to a series fatally weakened by its stars' growth hormones.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But the shock was sufficient to bring down buildings already weakened earlier: thousands panicked.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
But after another romantic dinner, could her resolve be weakening?
The Sun (2015)
Does the lack of an all-rounder weaken the team?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When one side is weakened, the other gains strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They can seriously weaken the tree, making it vulnerable to other pests and diseases.
The Sun (2015)
I have to find a way to changing my life but my resolve always weakens.
The Sun (2012)
They can also weaken nouns.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
It also weakens the credibility of a group leader if it's discovered that he or she has not gained victory over the bottle.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
weaken
British English: weaken VERB
If you weaken something or if it weakens, it becomes less strong or less powerful.
The recession has weakened many businesses.
American English: weaken
Brazilian Portuguese: enfraquecer(-se)
Chinese: 使虚弱
European Spanish: debilitarse
French: affaiblir
German: schwächen
Italian: indebolirsi
Japanese: 弱体化させる/弱体化する
Korean: 약화되다
European Portuguese: enfraquecer(-se)
Latin American Spanish: debilitarse
Chinese translation of 'weaken'
weaken
(ˈwiːkn)
vi
[resolve, person]变(變)得优(優)柔寡断(斷) (biàn de yōu róu guǎ duàn)
[influence, power]变(變)弱 (biàn ruò)
vt
[person]使虚(虛)弱 (shǐ xūruò)
[institution]削弱 (xuēruò)
1 (verb)
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
Her opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened.
Synonyms
reduce
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
undermine
This will undermine their chances of success.
moderate
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
diminish
temper
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
impair
The bright sunshine was impairing my vision.
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
sap
I was afraid the sickness had sapped my strength.
mitigate
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
invalidate
An official decree invalidated the vote.
soften up
take the edge off
disempower
Opposites
increase,
improve
,
boost
,
strengthen
,
enhance
,
revitalize
2 (verb)
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
The storm was finally beginning to weaken.Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
Synonyms
wane
His interest in art to wane.
fail
He was 93 and his health was failing rapidly.
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
lower
The new measures will lower the risk.
flag
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
fade
After that all her worries faded away.
give way
lessen
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
abate
The storms soon abated.
droop
Support for him is beginning to droop amongst voters.
ease up
Opposites
increase,
grow
,
improve
,
strengthen
3 (verb)
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
Malnutrition weakens the patient.
Synonyms
sap the strength of
tire
If driving tires you, take the train.
exhaust
The effort of speaking had exhausted him.
debilitate
Fear threatened to debilitate me.
depress
The stronger currency depressed sales.
incapacitate
A serious fall incapacitated him.
enfeeble
enervate
Opposites
strengthen
,
revitalize
,
invigorate
4 (verb)
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
a glass of whisky weakened with soda
Synonyms
dilute
Dilute the syrup well with cooled, boiled water.
cut
thin
Aspirin thins the blood, letting it flow more easily.
water down
debase
He claims that advertising debases the English language.
thin out
adulterate
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
The storms soon abated.
Synonyms
decrease,
decline,
relax,
ease,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
diminish,
dwindle,
lessen,
slow,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
let up,
slacken,
attenuate,
taper off
in the sense of adulterate
Definition
to spoil something by adding inferior material
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
Synonyms
debase,
thin,
weaken,
corrupt,
deteriorate,
mix with,
contaminate,
devalue,
water down,
depreciate,
attenuate,
vitiate,
bastardize,
make impure
in the sense of debase
Definition
to lower in quality, character, or value
He claims that advertising debases the English language.
Synonyms
corrupt,
contaminate,
devalue,
pollute,
impair,
taint,
depreciate,
defile,
adulterate,
vitiate,
bastardize
Synonyms of 'weaken'
weaken
Explore 'weaken' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of debilitate
Definition
to make gradually weaker
Fear threatened to debilitate me.
Synonyms
weaken,
exhaust,
wear out,
sap,
incapacitate,
prostrate,
enfeeble,
enervate,
devitalize
in the sense of depress
The stronger currency depressed sales.
Synonyms
lower,
cut,
reduce,
check,
diminish,
decrease,
curb,
slow down,
impair,
lessen
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
The threat of war has diminished.
Synonyms
decrease,
decline,
lessen,
contract,
weaken,
shrink,
dwindle,
wane,
recede,
subside,
ebb,
taper,
die out,
fade away,
abate,
peter out
in the sense of droop
Definition
to be overcome by weariness
Support for him is beginning to droop amongst voters.
Synonyms
flag,
decline,
fade,
slump,
diminish,
wither,
wilt,
languish
in the sense of dwindle
Definition
to grow less in size, strength, or number
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Synonyms
lessen,
fall,
decline,
contract,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
decay,
wither,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
die down,
die out,
abate,
shrivel,
peter out,
die away,
waste away,
taper off,
grow less
in the sense of enervate
Definition
to deprive of strength or vitality
Synonyms
weaken,
tire,
exhaust,
fatigue,
paralyse,
sap,
wear out,
debilitate,
unnerve,
wash out,
incapacitate,
prostrate,
enfeeble,
devitalize
in the sense of exhaust
Definition
to tire out
The effort of speaking had exhausted him.
Synonyms
tire out,
tire,
fatigue,
drain,
weaken,
weary,
sap,
wear out,
debilitate,
prostrate,
enfeeble,
make tired,
enervate
in the sense of fade
Definition
to lose brightness, colour, or strength
After that all her worries faded away.
Synonyms
dwindle,
disappear,
vanish,
melt away,
fall,
fail,
decline,
flag,
dissolve,
dim,
disperse,
wither,
wilt,
wane,
perish,
ebb,
languish,
die out,
droop,
shrivel,
die away,
waste away,
vanish into thin air,
become unimportant,
evanesce (formal),
etiolate
in the sense of fail
He was 93 and his health was failing rapidly.
Synonyms
decline,
fade,
weaken,
deteriorate,
dwindle,
sicken,
degenerate,
fall apart at the seams,
be on your last legs (informal)
in the sense of flag
Definition
to lose enthusiasm or energy
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
Synonyms
weaken,
fall,
die,
fail,
decline,
sink,
fade,
slump,
pine,
faint,
weary,
fall off,
succumb,
falter,
wilt,
wane,
ebb,
sag,
languish,
abate,
droop,
peter out,
taper off,
feel the pace,
lose your strength
Additional synonyms
in the sense of impair
Definition
to damage or weaken in strength or quality
The bright sunshine was impairing my vision.
Synonyms
worsen,
reduce,
damage,
injure,
harm,
mar,
undermine,
weaken,
spoil,
diminish,
decrease,
blunt,
deteriorate,
lessen,
hinder,
debilitate,
vitiate,
enfeeble,
enervate
in the sense of incapacitate
Definition
to deprive (a person) of strength, power, or ability
A serious fall incapacitated him.
Synonyms
immobilize,
paralyse,
prostrate,
put someone out of action (informal),
lay someone up (informal),
unfit (rare)
in the sense of invalidate
Definition
to take away the legal force of (a contract)
An official decree invalidated the vote.
Synonyms
nullify,
cancel,
annul,
undermine,
weaken,
overthrow,
undo,
quash,
overrule,
rescind,
abrogate,
render null and void
in the sense of lessen
Definition
to make or become less
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
Synonyms
reduce,
lower,
diminish,
decrease,
relax,
ease,
narrow,
moderate,
dial down,
weaken,
erode,
impair,
degrade,
minimize,
curtail,
lighten,
wind down,
abridge,
de-escalate
in the sense of lessen
Definition
to make or become less
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
Synonyms
grow less,
diminish,
decrease,
contract,
ease,
weaken,
shrink,
slow down,
dwindle,
lighten,
wind down,
die down,
abate,
slacken
in the sense of lower
Definition
to lessen or become less
The new measures will lower the risk.
Synonyms
lessen,
cut,
reduce,
moderate,
diminish,
slash,
decrease,
prune,
minimize,
curtail,
abate
in the sense of mitigate
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease,
moderate,
soften,
check,
quiet,
calm,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
temper,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
appease,
lighten,
remit,
allay,
placate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
take the edge off,
extenuate,
tranquillize,
palliate,
reduce the force of
in the sense of moderate
Definition
to make or become less extreme or violent
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
Synonyms
soften,
control,
calm,
temper,
regulate,
quiet,
diminish,
decrease,
curb,
restrain,
tame,
subdue,
play down,
lessen,
repress,
mitigate,
tone down,
pacify,
modulate,
soft-pedal (informal)
in the sense of sap
Definition
to weaken or exhaust the strength or confidence of
I was afraid the sickness had sapped my strength.
Synonyms
weaken,
drain,
undermine,
rob,
exhaust,
bleed (informal),
erode,
deplete,
wear down,
enervate,
devitalize
in the sense of temper
Definition
to modify so as to make less extreme or more acceptable
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
Synonyms
moderate,
restrain,
tone down,
calm,
soften,
soothe,
lessen,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
assuage,
mollify,
soft-pedal (informal),
palliate,
admix
Additional synonyms
in the sense of thin
Definition
to make or become thin or sparse
Aspirin thins the blood, letting it flow more easily.
Synonyms
dilute,
water down,
weaken,
attenuate
in the sense of tire
Definition
to reduce the energy of, as by exertion
If driving tires you, take the train.
Synonyms
exhaust,
drain,
fatigue,
weary,
fag (informal),
whack (British, informal),
wear out,
wear down,
take it out of (informal),
knacker (slang),
enervate
in the sense of undermine
Definition
to weaken gradually or insidiously
This will undermine their chances of success.
Synonyms
damage,
weaken,
threaten,
hurt,
injure,
impair,
sap,
put the kibosh on (informal),
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)