weaken

/ˈwikən/

/ˈwikɪn/

Other forms: weakened; weakening; weakens

To weaken is to become less powerful or strong. When a storm weakens, the wind dies down and the torrential rain becomes a light drizzle.

If you weaken physically, your strength diminishes: "I did great at the start of the obstacle course, but my arms began to weaken toward the end and I couldn't climb that last wall." You can also weaken in resolve or spirit, like when your sister's criticism of your art project weakens your confidence about including it in an exhibition. This verb comes from weak and its Germanic root meaning "yield" or "soft."

Definitions of weaken

1. verb

   lessen the strength of
   “The fever weakened his body”

   synonyms: nerf

   antonyms:

   strengthen

   make strong or stronger

   types:

   de-energise, de-energize

   deprive of energy

   break

   weaken or destroy in spirit or body

   devitalise, devitalize

   sap of life or energy

   shake

   undermine or cause to waver

   depress

   lessen the activity or force of

   unbrace

   remove a brace or braces from

   etiolate

   make weak by stunting the growth or development of

   cripple, stultify

   deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless

   cut, dilute, reduce, thin, thin out

   lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture

   attenuate, rarefy

   weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)

   blunt

   make less intense

   mollify, season, temper

   make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate

   debilitate, drain, enfeeble

   make weak

   enervate

   weaken physically, mentally, or morally

   dampen

   reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves)

   negate, neutralise, neutralize, nullify

   make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

   castrate, emasculate

   deprive of strength or vigor

   wash out

   deplete of strength or vitality

   eviscerate

   take away a vital or essential part of

   emaciate, macerate, waste

   cause to grow thin or weak

   water down

   make less strong or intense

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
   synonyms: de-escalate, step down

   type of:

   decrease, lessen, minify

   make smaller
3. verb

   lessen in force or effect
   synonyms: break, damp, dampen, dilute, soften

   types:

   deafen

   make soundproof

   damp, dampen, deaden

   make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible

   type of:

   blunt, deaden, zombify

   make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation
4. verb

   become weaker
   antonyms:

   strengthen

   gain strength

   types:

   attenuate

   become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude

   disappear, evaporate, melt

   become less intense and fade away gradually

   die down

   become progressively weaker

   collapse

   lose significance, effectiveness, or value

   fade, melt

   become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly

   lessen, subside

   wear off or die down

   blur, dim, slur

   become vague or indistinct

   languish, pine away, waste

   lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief

   dull

   make less lively or vigorous

   pall

   lose strength or effectiveness; become or appear boring, insipid, or tiresome (to)

   loose, loosen, relax

   become loose or looser or less tight

   slacken

   become looser or slack

   slack, slacken, slow, slow down, slow up

   become slow or slower

   wilt

   lose strength

   efface, obliterate

   remove completely from recognition or memory

   cloud

   make milky or dull

   refine

   attenuate or reduce in vigor, strength, or validity by polishing or purifying

   type of:

   decrease, diminish, fall, lessen

   decrease in size, extent, or range
5. verb

   destroy property or hinder normal operations
   synonyms: counteract, countermine, sabotage, subvert, undermine

   types:

   derail

   cause to run off the tracks

   type of:

   disobey

   refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient