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to weaken

to weaken

305 2.8
To make people and things less strong or effective
  • verb
  • /ˈwiːkən/
translation icon : debilitar
  • People are in a weakened state; they're fearful of each other.
  • weaken a position
  • strengthen and weaken
  • weaken political institutions

And you, you weaken the strength of these people who want freedom.

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Examples

  • And in fact, if he does interrupt it, it would probably weaken the effect.

  • And the Ukrainians in the West will do everything they can to weaken Russia's position.

  • So this would seem to weaken his own point of view.

  • And you, you weaken the strength of these people who want freedom.

  • But when this happens, people weaken their commitment for their success.

  • So you have got to weaken the cancer while strengthening that system.

  • This procedure will greatly weaken his immune system.

  • It seemed that that would weaken his power or strength.

  • And that's not only a terrible decision, it weakens us beyond belief.

  • Smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke weaken your ability to fight off viruses and bacteria.

Synonyms

to undermine
vsto weaken
270 6.8

Weaken a person or system slowly, often in secret, so it does not work well

is the straightforward action of making less strong without secrecy or intent
to diminish
vsto weaken
201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

focuses more on reducing strength, power, or effectiveness rather than size
to reduce
vsto weaken
162 2.1

To make something weaker or in a worse state

is the neutral term for lowering strength or effectiveness without status change
to dwindle
vsto weaken
72 5.1

To become smaller or less in number over time

is the active reduction of strength or power rather than just becoming smaller
to impair
vsto weaken
61 5.1

To make something worse or less able to work

is broader, meaning make less strong or effective without implying damage
to soften
vsto weaken
50 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

is the plain reduction of strength or effectiveness rather than making gentler
to falter
vsto weaken
48 4.9

To lose confidence, strength, or determination and become less able to continue

is the general act of making less strong or effective, not only losing certainty
to wane
vsto weaken
48 6.4

To become less in size, amount, or strength

is the general making less strong that can be sudden or intentional
to subvert
vsto weaken
34 8.1

To secretly weaken a government, system, or its power

is the general weakening of strength, not specifically attacking institutions
to lessen
vsto weaken
34 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

is about reducing strength, power, or effectiveness rather than amount
to damp
vsto weaken
26 4.8

To make a sound or feeling less strong

is the broader act of making something less strong or effective beyond muting
to abate
vsto weaken
23 6.8

To become less strong or severe and to make something do the same

is the more general way to make something less strong or powerful
to debilitate
vsto weaken
20 7.7

To make a person, animal, or thing weak and less able to work

is the general weakening or loss of power not limited to physical cases
to dampen
vsto weaken
16 4.4

Make something less strong or noticeable, for example sound and feeling

is the broader term for lowering strength, power, or effectiveness without sensory focus
to sap
vsto weaken
14 5.6

To slowly make someone or something weaker

is the general act of making less strong without focusing on gradual draining
to wear thin
vsto weaken
  • Informal
11 6.2

Lose people's trust or patience over time

is the general reduction in strength or power without focusing on loss of patience
to emasculate
vsto weaken
10 8.8

To make something weaker or less effective

is the broad term for reducing strength without implying deliberate power removal
to whittle down
vsto weaken
10 5.1

To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time

is the broader term for making less strong without focusing on piecewise removal
to attenuate
vsto weaken
9 7.9

To make something weaker, like sound or light

is the general term for making something less strong without technical detail
to deaden
vsto weaken
3 5.5

To make a feeling, sound, or pain less strong

is the general idea of lowering strength or effectiveness rather than dulling feeling
to whittle away
vsto weaken
3 5.9

To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away

is the general lowering of strength without implying gradual physical removal
to nerf
vsto weaken
  • Slang
1 8.6

To make something weaker, especially in a game after an update

is the general term for making less strong, not limited to games or software
to attrit
vsto weaken
  • Jargon
1 9.9

To make people or forces fewer and weaker by slow, steady pressure

is the broader reduction of strength without implying repeated losses or pressure
to stultify
vsto weaken
  • Formal
1 9.8

Make someone or something lose energy and stop working well

is the broader reduction of strength or power without implying loss of enthusiasm

Antonyms

327 3.0

To make muscles, relationships, or groups stronger

3 5.1

Make something stronger by adding support or protection

How Weakening

to cripple
72 6.3
to disable
87 3.5
to undermine
270 6.8
to weaken
305 2.8
to diminish
201 3.7
to slacken
1 5.5

Surface Forms

weaken infinitive
weakened past
weakened past participle
weakening present participle
weakens third person singular

Morphology

weaken = weak (transparent) = weak + en

The adjective 'weak' plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-en' yields 'weaken' meaning 'make or become less strong', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Weaken comes from the simple word weak meaning 'not strong' plus the verb ending -en that means 'to make'. So to weaken something is to 'make it not strong', which is why it means to make or become less strong or effective.