Synonyms for weaken
Most common
undermine debilitate dilute attenuate step down de-escalate emasculate
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Undermine
undermine, debilitate, dilute, attenuate, cripple, break, reduce, lessen, impair, diminish, debase, lower, depress, worsen, soften, hurt, deteriorate, aggravate, subvert, dampen, relax, counteract
2. Step down
3. Emasculate
Other
shake, deplete, incapacitate, disable, exhaust, sag, cramp, devitalize, devitalise UK, wasten, evertuate dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To make weaker or less strong.
- v. 2
To become weaker or less strong.
Over the years my enthusiasm for the job has weakened.
Forms
- Past participle
- weakened
e.g. weakened → undermined, debilitated, diluted, attenuated…
Example sentences
- undermine Change has the potential to undermine our identity.
- dilute Can I use this solvent to dilute my sample?
- attenuate Water will attenuate the signal.
- shake New GATT resolutions could create a real shake-up.
- sag The sag of that bag makes it unappealing to wear.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| weaken | steady | |
| undermine | rising | |
| dilute | falling | |
| attenuate | steady | |
| debilitate | rising | |
| shake | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- sag1
- 4 letters
- hurt1
- 5 letters
- break1, lower2, relax2, shake1, cramp1, unman
- 6 letters
- reduce2, lessen2, soften2, dilute2, worsen2, impair2, dampen2, debase2, wasten
- 7 letters
- exhaust2, disable3, cripple2, subvert2, depress2, deplete2, unnerve2
- 8 letters
- diminish3
- 9 letters
- undermine3, aggravate3, attenuate4, evertuate
- 10 letters
- counteract3, emasculate4, debilitate4, devitalize, devitalise
- 11 letters
- deteriorate5
- 12 letters
- incapacitate5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lower2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- affaiblir
- Italiano
- debilitare
- Español
- debilitar
- Deutsch
- schwächen
- Català
- afeblir