weaken

[wee-kuhn]

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.

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

/ ˈwiːkən /

verb

1. to become or cause to become weak or weaker

Other Word Forms

• weakener noun
• reweaken verb
• unweakened adjective
• unweakening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weaken¹

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Further weakening would create slack, and that weakness could feed on itself.

Read more on MarketWatch

Kingfisher lifted its profit outlook for fiscal 2026, saying its performance to date and cost savings give it confidence despite weakening market conditions in the U.K. and Poland.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Artificial intelligence is expected to drive market gains and productivity, but also increase volatility and potentially weaken employment.

Read more on Barron's

A downturn in U.S. diesel and European gasoil futures on prospects of the U.S. eventually lifting Russia sanctions has weakened one of the recent supports for crude, while concerns about oversupply remain.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Privacy defenders, however, were unhappy with the proposed changes, arguing they weaken safeguards protecting Europeans' data.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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