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weaken

[ wee-kuhn ]
/ ˈwi kən /
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See synonyms for: weaken / weakened / weakening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to make weak or weaker.
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)
to become weak or weaker.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as


Origin of weaken

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -en1

OTHER WORDS FROM weaken

weak·en·er, nounre·weak·en, verbun·weak·ened, adjectiveun·weak·en·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use weaken in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for weaken

weaken
/ (ˈwiːkən) /

verb
to become or cause to become weak or weaker

Derived forms of weaken

weakener, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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