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

Waller has been pressing the Fed to continue cutting rates, saying he was worried the labor market was weakening.

From MarketWatch

Now that the Magnificent Seven has definitively weakened and violated a key support level, the next question is whether the decline can be halted at its 200-day moving average.

From MarketWatch

Trade uncertainty increases as a result and the dollar weakens, which is helping demand for gold, ANZ analysts write.

From The Wall Street Journal

These costs pressure device makers such as Apple, but there is little evidence of weakening demand outside of pockets such as reduced production by Chinese smartphone makers.

From Barron's

These costs pressure device makers such as Apple, but there is little evidence of weakening demand outside of pockets such as reduced production by Chinese smartphone makers.

From Barron's

Related Words

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