1
as in to soften
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
weakened the juice with too much water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weaken
In that sense, the effort to avoid appearing wrong can weaken decision-making.
—
Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Throughout Tuesday morning, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of Juneau, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Adams counties and later canceled after the storms weakened.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 31 Mar. 2026
And yet…the bond markets rallied yesterday on the prospect that the Fed may be more afraid of weakening GDP growth than inflation.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Iran’s Ministry of Science said at least 21 universities have been damaged in strikes since the war began, and academics themselves have been targeted, in what Tehran claims is an attempt to weaken the country’s scientific and cultural foundations.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Throughout Tuesday morning, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of Juneau, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Adams counties and later canceled after the storms weakened.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 31 Mar. 2026
And yet…the bond markets rallied yesterday on the prospect that the Fed may be more afraid of weakening GDP growth than inflation.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Iran’s Ministry of Science said at least 21 universities have been damaged in strikes since the war began, and academics themselves have been targeted, in what Tehran claims is an attempt to weaken the country’s scientific and cultural foundations.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken
Verb
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The most flattering colors visually soften the skin and enhance its natural beauty.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
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On the other hand, taupe bags work just as well with bold color pairings, softening them with a sense of ease.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Pensions faded, and a new system of 401(k) retirement savings rewarded Americans for working longer.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When this idea is diluted, government expands its ambition to curate the public’s consciousness.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
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Now, Perez said branches are leaving the union because of high turnover in retail banking, which dilutes the original union-supporting staff and allows the company to re-educate new hires with anti-union talking points.—
Chase Jordan
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That night, Kane was injured, and Carsley tried to pick the boldest, most talented team possible, with Jude Bellingham nominally up front, and Foden, Palmer, Gordon and Bukayo Saka in, too.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The conditions for the three people injured in the shooting wasn't immediately available.—
Siafa Lewis,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While lightweight sleepers may not notice much impact, heavier sleepers will likely find their mattresses sag more quickly.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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Wrinkles, sun spots and sagging skin have become so demonized, that even teenagers — decades away from this reality — and increasingly men, previously exempt from this ruinous beauty standard, have started to fear, anticipate and prepare for their arrival.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks after becoming infected and may include fever, headache, rash, and body aches.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Young ticks frequently feed on these mice and become infected.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For others with the condition, flare-ups can involve additional symptoms that are extremely painful or even debilitating.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2026
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After missing almost two full years with a debilitating back and then an ACL injury, Melton has been one of the Warriors’ most impactful players since returning in early December.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the video, Woods can be seen wearing a blue polo shirt and leaning against the patrol car while failing the sobriety tests.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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In other words, when a job requires multiple steps, creativity, or precision, AI replacements are more likely to fail than succeed.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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