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Glite Dictionary
to debilitate

to debilitate

20 7.7
To make a person, animal, or thing weak and less able to work
  • verb
  • /dɪˈbɪlɪˌteɪt/
translation icon : debilitar
  • Kawakibi's thesis, however, demonstrated the debilitating effect of despotism on both society and individual character.
  • debilitating war
  • debilitating disease
  • debilitating illness

A sportsman with fear is you can debilitate yourself.

Examples

  • The illness can debilitate even the strongest athletes, making it difficult for them to train.

  • For most participants, the knowledge of having a chronic debilitating condition was a big "shock" initially.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The reform of the state through privatization is not intended to debilitate the state.

    Academic text (1998)

  • As the patient becomes increasingly debilitated, the family often asks what else there is to do.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Of these, 10-12 million seek professional help, and 2.5 million are debilitated by their tinnitus condition.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Their fear of making mistakes works as an affective filter, debilitating their confidence in communicating through English.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Only a few years ago Ariana made a huge comeback into the world of gymnastics after suffering a debilitating car accident.

    Full Out (2015)

  • But he struggled with debilitating depression, so much so that villagers, anxious to help, talked of exorcism.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Yet more than any other group, the debilitated elderly experienced the harsh consequences of the redesigned almshouse.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Burrowing into the skin and settling in veins, they cause the debilitating disease schistosomiasis.

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

to weaken
vsto debilitate
305 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

specifically targets physical weakening as well as reduced effectiveness
to drain
vsto debilitate
189 3.4

To slowly use up energy, money, or other resources

is not only gradual but directly causes physical weakness or poor function
to cripple
vsto debilitate
72 6.3

To cause serious harm that makes a person or thing unable to work properly

is milder, producing weakness or reduced effect without total incapacity
to impair
vsto debilitate
61 5.1

To make something worse or less able to work

is more about producing physical weakness rather than general damage
to wear down
vsto debilitate
27 4.1

Slowly make a person or thing weaker by repeated pressure

applies to making physically weak as well as reducing effectiveness
to hobble
vsto debilitate
14 5.7

To limit the progress or success of something

works by lowering physical strength and function rather than only restricting movement
to emasculate
vsto debilitate
10 8.8

To make something weaker or less effective

is about physical weakening and reduced effectiveness rather than loss of power
to castrate
vsto debilitate
  • Informal
7 8.8

To take away the power of something so it cannot work well

focuses on causing physical weakness rather than implying removal of parts
to deaden
vsto debilitate
3 5.5

To make a feeling, sound, or pain less strong

targets physical weakening and lower effectiveness rather than only intensity
to enfeeble
vsto debilitate
2 8.4

To make a person or thing very weak

causes physical weakness and reduced overall effectiveness rather than extreme loss
to hamstring
vsto debilitate
1 7.9

To make a person or group unable to act effectively

focuses on reducing physical strength rather than mainly limiting action
to stultify
vsto debilitate
  • Formal
1 9.8

Make someone or something lose energy and stop working well

is centered on producing physical weakness rather than mainly sapping interest
to infirm
vsto debilitate
  • Archaic
1 8.1

To make a person weak in body or health

focuses on causing physical weakness while also reducing effectiveness
to prostrate
vsto debilitate
1 8.2

To make someone very weak and unable to fight back

is more general, causing physical weakness without full helplessness
to exsanguinate
vsto debilitate
1 9.9

To make something weak by taking away what it needs

is similar but emphasizes direct physical weakening rather than resource loss
to devitalize
vsto debilitate
8.1

To make a place or group less lively and energetic

is similar but stresses physical loss of strength more than liveliness

Antonyms

to strengthen
327 3.0

To make muscles, relationships, or groups stronger

to invigorate
26 5.5

To give more energy and make someone or something feel lively

How Debilitating

to cripple
72 6.3
to debilitate
20 7.7
to weaken
305 2.8
to impair
61 5.1

Surface Forms

debilitate infinitive
debilitated past
debilitated past participle
debilitating present participle
debilitates third person singular

Morphology

debilitate = de + bilit + ate

Although the segments 'de-' and '-ate' are visible, the central combining form 'bilit' is not a standalone English word and the verb's meaning cannot be transparently derived by an average B1 learner from these parts.

Etymology

The word debilitate comes from the Latin debilis meaning 'weak' and is related to the English word feeble, so to debilitate someone or something is to make them weak or less able to work.