attenuate

[ verb uh-ten-yoo-eyt; adjective uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt ]

/ verb əˈtɛn yuˌeɪt; adjective əˈtɛn yu ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

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See synonyms for: attenuate / attenuated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.

to make thin; make slender or fine.

Bacteriology, Immunology. to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.

Electronics. to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal): A splitter will attenuate your output.

verb (used without object), at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

to become thin, fine, or weak; lessen: Over the years, my anger at my family attenuated and I was able to acknowledge the strengths they had given me.

adjective

weakened; diminishing.

Botany. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.

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Origin of attenuate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin attenuātus (past participle of attenuāre “to make thin, reduce”); see at-, tenuis, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM attenuate

o·ver·at·ten·u·ate, verb (used with object), o·ver·at·ten·u·at·ed, o·ver·at·ten·u·at·ing.sub·at·ten·u·ate, adjective

Words nearby attenuate

attention line, attention span, attentive, attentively, attenuant, attenuate, attenuated, attenuation, attenuator, attercop, attest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use attenuate in a sentence

RNA vaccines were developed as an alternative to the standard method of vaccination using attenuated or inactivated microorganisms.
We Have to Talk About Doubt - Issue 104: Harmony|David Krakauer|September 1, 2021|Nautilus
By 1885, Pasteur would take his ideas one step further, injecting slurried concoctions containing attenuated rabies virus into the stomach of a young boy to save the boy’s life, and inventing the first lab-made vaccine.
As U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Top the Civil War’s Toll, We're Repeating Disease History|Rachel Lance|August 14, 2021|Time
Moreover, the chimera was attenuated in mice as compared to the parental mouse-adapted virus, so this would be considered a loss of function.
“We never created a supervirus.” Ralph Baric explains gain-of-function research.|Rowan Jacobsen|July 26, 2021|MIT Technology Review
The Department of Education did this broad survey on prevention programs attempting to attenuate youth substance and crime and aspects like that.
Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet) (Ep. 405 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|March 25, 2021|Freakonomics

The future role of the national agencies will be attenuated—becoming more akin to an airport rather than to an airline.
If Aliens Exist, Here’s How We’ll Find Them - Issue 97: Wonder|Martin Rees & Mario Livio|February 24, 2021|Nautilus
Israeli retaliation of some kind is probably inevitable, but American influence can do much to attenuate the damage it causes.
The Palestinian Choice—And Ours|Hussein Ibish|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Her flowing dress of white brocade made no attempt to compress, to sustain or to attenuate.
Tante|Anne Douglas Sedgwick
But before she could attenuate in any way the crudity of her collapse he gave an impatient jerk which took him to the window.
What Maisie Knew|Henry James
The next day he added: "I am still sore vexed about Sherman, but Chenery did his best to attenuate the mischief."
Great Britain and the American Civil War|Ephraim Douglass Adams
Nevertheless, I had risen to make this answer, the ill grace of which I strove to attenuate by the courteousness of my attitude.
Led Astray and The Sphinx|Octave Feuillet
Involucre globular; the imbricated scales coriaceous and appressed at base, attenuate to long stiff points with hooked tips.
The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States|Asa Gray

British Dictionary definitions for attenuate

attenuate

verb (əˈtɛnjʊˌeɪt)

to weaken or become weak; reduce in size, strength, density, or value

to make or become thin or fine; extend

(tr) to make (a pathogenic bacterium, virus, etc) less virulent, as by culture in special media or exposure to heat

adjective (əˈtɛnjʊɪt, -ˌeɪt)

diluted, weakened, slender, or reduced

botany tapering gradually to a point

Word Origin for attenuate

C16: from Latin attenuāre to weaken, from tenuis thin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

attenuate

Origin of attenuate

OTHER WORDS FROM attenuate

Words nearby attenuate

Words related to attenuate

How to use attenuate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for attenuate

Word Origin for attenuate