debilitation

American  

[dih-bil-i-tey-shuhn] / dɪˌbɪl ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of making a person or thing weak or feeble, often in a specific way; the resulting state of weakness.

   Death or debilitation is statistically far more likely to occur by disease or accident than by malicious action.

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Other Word Forms

• nondebilitation noun

Etymology

Origin of debilitation

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin dēbilitātiōn-, stem of dēbilitātiō; debilitate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Hundreds of sea turtles suffer hypothermia and severe debilitation every year in the colder waters of Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts, as the cold-blooded reptiles are unable to regulate their body temperatures.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024

The long-term form of Covid-19 has something in common with other forms of chronic illness — strange and varied symptoms, lasting debilitation, no certain treatment.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2021

He picked up the virus right at the start of the pandemic and had a relentless and gruelling illness followed by a lingering debilitation that has lasted over six months.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2020

The debilitation of Wilson and deterioration of Nixon were behind closed doors.

From Slate • Sep. 5, 2018

Even in the grip of agonizing pain or complete debilitation, most jockeys clung to their illusion of invulnerability.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand