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debilitate

[ dih-bil-i-teyt ]
/ dɪˈbɪl ɪˌteɪt /
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See synonyms for: debilitate / debilitated / debilitating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·bil·i·tat·ed, de·bil·i·tat·ing.
to make weak or feeble; enfeeble: The siege of pneumonia debilitated her completely.
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Origin of debilitate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dēbilitātus (past participle of dēbilitāre ), equivalent to dēbilit-, stem of dēbilis “weak” + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM debilitate

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

How to use debilitate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for debilitate

debilitate
/ (dɪˈbɪlɪˌteɪt) /

verb
(tr) to make feeble; weaken

Derived forms of debilitate

debilitation, noun

Word Origin for debilitate

C16: from Latin dēbilitāre, from dēbilis weak
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
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