weakening
Becoming less powerful
Weakening is the process of becoming or making something less strong, powerful, or effective.
A structure shows signs of weakening before collapse.
Political support may be weakening.
The storm is weakening as it moves inland.
Her weakening grip on the rope alarmed the climbers.
The word functions as both a noun describing the process and an adjective describing something in decline.
Reducing density or number
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
- softeningBecoming less firm
- moderatingMaking less extreme
- temperingControlled heating and cooling
qualifying · hedging · compromising · undermining · eroding · diminishing · blunting · muting
Process of declining quality
- erosionGradual wearing away
- waneDecrease gradually
- diminutionReduction in size
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
reduction · lessening · subsidence · slump · dip · drop · downturn · ebb
Causing risk of harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- moribundNear death, failing
- obsolescenceState of becoming disused
- revitalizationRestoring vigor or vitality
documentation · attrition · decline · dormancy · shift · loss · erosion · preservation
Wasting from disuse
- enfeeblementState of growing weak
- emaciationExtreme bodily thinness
- wastingUsing poorly, inefficiently
- impairmentDiminished function or capacity
debility · enervation · sapping · devitalization · exhaustion · prostration · asthenia · frailty
Gradual wearing away
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- degradationDecline in condition
- corrosionChemical wearing away
decay · rotting · fraying · cracking · splintering · buckling · sagging · warping
State of utter depletion
- tirednessState of needing rest
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- wearinessState of being drained
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
listlessness · drowsiness · sluggishness · languor · torpor · malaise · flagging · drooping
Showing unsteady resolve
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- vacillationInability to choose
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
caving · yielding · relenting · softening · buckling · crumbling · surrendering · conceding
thinning
Reducing density or number
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
- softeningBecoming less firm
- moderatingMaking less extreme
tempering · qualifying · hedging · compromising · undermining · eroding · diminishing · blunting · muting · dampening
deterioration
Process of declining quality
- erosionGradual wearing away
- waneDecrease gradually
- diminutionReduction in size
decrease · reduction · lessening · subsidence · slump · dip · drop · downturn · ebb · falling-off
endangerment
Causing risk of harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- moribundNear death, failing
- obsolescenceState of becoming disused
revitalization · documentation · attrition · decline · dormancy · shift · loss · erosion · preservation · reclamation
atrophy
Wasting from disuse
- enfeeblementState of growing weak
- emaciationExtreme bodily thinness
- wastingUsing poorly, inefficiently
impairment · debility · enervation · sapping · devitalization · exhaustion · prostration · asthenia · frailty · infirmity
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- degradationDecline in condition
corrosion · decay · rotting · fraying · cracking · splintering · buckling · sagging · warping · brittleness
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
burnout · listlessness · drowsiness · sluggishness · languor · torpor · malaise · flagging · drooping · wilting
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- vacillationInability to choose
capitulation · caving · yielding · relenting · softening · buckling · crumbling · surrendering · conceding · compromising
- decliningdeclining, waning, fading, diminishing, decreasing
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, rotting, eroding
- downplayingminimizing, downplay, trivializing, belittling, soft-pedal
- gradual declinefading, waning, dwindling, diminishing, ebbing
- reducingshrinking, lessening, diminishing, decreasing, cutting back
- lenitionspirantization, debuccalization, flapping, tapping
weakeningstrengthening
Increasing power or solidity
fortifying · reinforcing · intensifying · bolstering · empowering
weakeningrecovery
Regaining what was lost
recuperation · rehabilitation · healing · invigorating · revitalizing
weakeningreinforcing
Making more robust
strengthening · fortifying · shoring up · stabilizing · solidifying