enervate

[en-er-veyt, ih-nur-vit]

verb (used with object)

enervated, enervating 

1. to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.

   Synonyms: exhaust, sap, debilitate, enfeeble

adjective

1. enervated.

enervate

verb

1. (tr) to deprive of strength or vitality; weaken physically or mentally; debilitate

adjective

1. deprived of strength or vitality; weakened

Other Word Forms

• enervator noun
• enervative adjective
• enervation noun
• nonenervating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of enervate¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin ēnervātus “weakened” (past participle of ēnervāre “to weaken”), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + nerv(us) “sinew” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, nerve, -ate ¹; compare Anglo-French enervir, French énerver

Word History and Origins

Origin of enervate¹

C17: from Latin ēnervāre to remove the nerves from, from nervus nerve, sinew

Example Sentences

Yet when he spoke following the haphazard 2-1 Europa League defeat on Thursday, there was a enervating familiarity about how the Rangers head coach explained away the outcome.

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Removing this key link of Westlake Avenue at this critical juncture could undo much of the recovery we’ve fought for and permanently enervate the small businesses of South Lake Union.

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Suffice to say, if it’s 45,000 years ago, as stated in the somber, enervating, occasionally ridiculous horror film “Out of Darkness,” you’re mainly looking for a warm cave to avoid cannibals.

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To be sure, not every episode has been equally good — one or two I would describe as not good — and some story arcs I found more rewarding, or more enervating, than others.

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Rachel — despite her challenges with Celeste, her old lover David, her ailing ex-husband and her enervating work life — also discovers good things about her new life as her body changes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times