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devitalization

devitalization

9.9
The process of making something lose its life and energy, for example plants, tissues or companies
  • noun
  • /ˌdiːˌvaɪtəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : devitalización
  • They include nerve injury (e.g., facial nerve palsy) and devitalization of tissues such as the overlying skin and nasal mucosa.

Examples

  • The devitalization of the affected tissues made the wound heal poorly.

  • Devitalization of the governing power is the malady of democratic states.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Such concerns include the need to explain the perceived uniqueness of modern Western society, the disintegration of the individual in modern society, the devitalization of society, and the spread of "evil" (Davis 1986: 287-293).

    Academic text (2000)
  • In some medical cases, devitalization refers to the death of cells due to a lack of oxygen.

  • The doctor explained how the devitalization process could lead to serious health complications.

Synonyms

degradation
vsdevitalization
33 6.8

The process of making land, water, or buildings worse over time

is about actively removing life force, not about social or moral decline
devolution
vsdevitalization
1 8.3

A slow decline from a higher to a lower state in quality or power

is an active process of removing vitality rather than passive slow decline
etiolation
vsdevitalization
9.9

A slow loss of strength or growth in something

focuses on removing general vitality or life energy rather than merely slowing growth

Antonyms

energizing
  • Specialized
1 4.3

Making someone feel more awake and active

6.9

A return of life and energy to a person or place

How Depleted

collapse
350 4.1
devitalization
  • Specialized
9.9
debilitation
1 8.1
weakening
3.2
fatigue
92 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

devitalization = devitalize (semi-transparent) = de + vital + ization

The noun is a standard and readily interpretable action/result formation from the verb 'devitalize'.

Etymology

Devitalization comes from the part de- meaning 'remove' and the root vital meaning 'life' or 'energy', the same root you see in vitality and vitamin. So devitalization is the act of taking away the life or energy of something, which is why we use it for cells, nerves, or even a weakened company.