weaken
Drain of power
Weaken means to make or become less strong.
Physical structures weaken under stress; resolve weakens under pressure; arguments weaken when evidence contradicts them.
The disease had weakened him considerably.
Her confidence weakened as the interview went on.
To weaken a position is to undermine it; to weaken in resolve is to waver.
To make weak
- enfeebleMake feeble or frail
- enervateTo drain of strength
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- impairTo diminish or damage
incapacitate · cripple · prostrate · devitalize · exhaust · deplete · drain · wear down
Lose strength or energy
- exhaustUse up entirely
- drainChannel for wastewater
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- wear outDeteriorate through use
fatigue · overtax · overwork · burn out · run down · spend · deplete · tax
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
erode · damage · disrupt · unsettle · shake · threaten · jeopardize · corrode
Decrease gradually
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- diminishTo make smaller
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
subside · lessen · decrease · taper · abate · recede · flag · falter
Weaken by adding liquid
- thinSmall in diameter
- attenuateReduce in force
- adulterateCorrupt by adding impurities
- cutSeverance or reduction
temper · moderate · soften · tone down · blunt · dull · mute · dampen
debilitate
To make weak
impair · incapacitate · cripple · prostrate · devitalize · exhaust · deplete · drain · wear down · undermine
tire
Lose strength or energy
wear out · fatigue · overtax · overwork · burn out · run down · spend · deplete · tax · strain
undermine
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
compromise · erode · damage · disrupt · unsettle · shake · threaten · jeopardize · corrode · chip away
wane
Decrease gradually
ebb · subside · lessen · decrease · taper · abate · recede · flag · falter · slump
water down
Weaken by adding liquid
- thinSmall in diameter
- attenuateReduce in force
- adulterateCorrupt by adding impurities
cut · temper · moderate · soften · tone down · blunt · dull · mute · dampen · qualify
feeble
Weak and ineffective
delicate · brittle · decrepit · shaky · unsteady · faltering · tenuous · flimsy · rickety · tottering
expose
Make known publicly
compromise · disarm · strip · lay bare
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, corrode
- diminishingabate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb
- undermineerode, sabotage, subvert, destabilize, sap
- give outhand out, share, distribute, dispense, issue
- softensoften, dampen, mute, muffle, tone down
- reduce/lessenreduce, shrink, lessen, decrease, diminish
weakeninvigorate
To fill with energy
revitalize · energize · rejuvenate · vitalize · revive
weakenconcentrate
Reduced, potent form
intensify · strengthen · condense · enrich · fortify
- weakest linkMost vulnerable component
- weak spotVulnerability to exploit
- weak pointExploitable flaw or vulnerability
- weak linkLeast reliable component
- weak in the kneesOverwhelmed to unsteadiness
- weak kneesTrembling lower limbs
weak, weakness, weakened, weakening, weakling, weakly, weakens, weaker, weakest