disempower
Remove someone's agency
To disempower is to strip someone of power, authority, or confidence—the opposite of empower.
The term appears most often in discussions of social systems that disempower marginalized groups: Policies that disempower workers benefit employers.
Someone can also feel disempowered by circumstances or relationships that diminish their agency or sense of control.
Treat as insignificant
- subjugateBring under dominion
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dominationSupreme authority held
- suppressForcibly put an end to
silence · coercion · exploitation · hegemony · persecution · subordination · colonialism · imperialism
Weaken by stealth
- diminishTo make smaller
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- debilitateTo make weak
enfeeble · impair · destabilize · subvert · demoralize · degrade · weaken · cripple
Control through superior strength
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- dictateGive orders imperiously
- subjugateBring under dominion
override · micromanage · gaslight · intimidate · bully · threaten · silence · censor
Narrow elongated piece
- denyRefuse to admit
- withholdRefuse to give
- divestRid of assets
- dispossessDeprive of property
rob · seize · confiscate · expropriate · usurp · bereave · deplete · impoverish
Lacking ability to cope
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- precariousnessState of uncertain stability
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
exposure · dependence · fragility · impotence · weakness · endangerment · unprotected · at-risk
marginalize
Treat as insignificant
- subjugateBring under dominion
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dominationSupreme authority held
suppress · silence · coercion · exploitation · hegemony · persecution · subordination · colonialism · imperialism · authoritarianism
undermine
Weaken by stealth
debilitate · enfeeble · impair · destabilize · subvert · demoralize · degrade · weaken · cripple · hamstring
dominate
Control through superior strength
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- dictateGive orders imperiously
subjugate · override · micromanage · gaslight · intimidate · bully · threaten · silence · censor · surveil
strip
Narrow elongated piece
dispossess · rob · seize · confiscate · expropriate · usurp · bereave · deplete · impoverish · disinherit
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- precariousnessState of uncertain stability
susceptibility · exposure · dependence · fragility · impotence · weakness · endangerment · unprotected · at-risk · disadvantaged
disparity
Measurable difference between things
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
inequity · privilege · segregation · classism · racism · sexism · ableism · ageism · caste · elitism
disempowerempower
Grant authority or confidence
enable · enfranchise · strengthen · authorize · capacitate