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

But as traditions of bipartisanship have eroded, especially in foreign policy, our global position has weakened.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It reported that UK sales had weakened in comparison to the "exceptional performance" seen earlier in the year after the M&S cyber-attack in April, but had been better than anticipated.

Read more on BBC

It took hours to cross Jamaica before first weakening and then intensifying again.

Read more on Barron's

The Fed, for instance, is expected to lower rates by a quarter of a percentage point to hold up the weakening jobs market.

Read more on Barron's

Even as the economy grows, hiring has weakened, with economists expecting slower job-creation this fall.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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