weaken

American  

[wee-kuhn] / ˈwi kən /

verb (used with object)

1. to make weak or weaker.

   Synonyms:

   invalidate, minimize, impair, reduce, lower, diminish, lessen, deplete, exhaust, sap, undermine, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble

   Antonyms:

   strengthen

2. Phonetics. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring less effort, as from geminate to nongeminate or from stop to fricative.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become weak or weaker.

   Synonyms:

   sap, undermine, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble, invalidate, minimize, impair, reduce, lower, diminish, lessen, deplete, exhaust

   Antonyms:

   strengthen

weaken British  

/ ˈwiːkən /

verb

1. to become or cause to become weak or weaker

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Other Word Forms

• reweaken verb
• unweakened adjective
• unweakening adjective
• weakener noun

Etymology

Origin of weaken

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -en ¹

Example Sentences

It paused cuts last year when tariffs threatened to push inflation higher, then resumed as the job market weakened.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It doesn’t mean I’m going to stay put for the rest of the year,” he said, adding that if the labor market continues to weaken, he would push for cuts again.

From Barron's

Technical indicators suggest support for stocks has started to weaken.

From MarketWatch

Analysts at French investment banking firm Natixis Research published a report Thursday which warned that declining current account surpluses will weaken Asian currencies, raising inflation expectations and lead to tighter financial conditions.

From MarketWatch

However, market watchers say investor demand has weakened and the precious metal has been under pressure from ETF outflows.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abate
• decline
• decrease
• depress
• dilute
• diminish
• dwindle
• halt
• impair
• lessen
• lower
• reduce
• sap
• soften
• undermine
• wane