1
as in to soften
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of weaken
The pandemic, in turn, spread panic and left behind mistrust, weakening faith in civic and religious authorities.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Israel later launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Anything that weakens fibers can worsen pilling.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
So, the underlying use case didn't weaken just because silver prices pulled back.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Israel later launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Anything that weakens fibers can worsen pilling.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
So, the underlying use case didn't weaken just because silver prices pulled back.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for weaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken
Verb
-
Williams did not explicitly mention tennis, or any sport, in her Super Bowl advert for Ro, but her focus on movement and wellbeing in the context of her softening position on the possibility of a comeback was striking.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
On most prestige shows, a friendship between two women from disparate backgrounds would serve as an emotional anchor, softening both characters.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Dreher wrote The Benedict Option, during the Obama presidency, his primary concern was how to keep faith alive at a time when Christianity seemed to be fading away.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Relationship endings are possible under this influence — don’t insist on forcing a connection that’s trying to fade.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Give your plant orchid food or a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The poetry of Brontë’s language is likewise diluted.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dozens more were injured, many suffering serious or life-threatening injuries.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Italy’s national fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, reported that, over the weekend, two people died and one was seriously injured in Alpe Meriggio in Valtellina after being caught in an avalanche that fatally buried at least one of the victims.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In fact, one shopper even credits it with improving sagging corners around the mouth and forehead creasing.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike your average and typical pillow that sags over time, this one has hotel-like appeal because of its precise border for a structured, refined look.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lung, stomach and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of the cases that were linked to modifiable risks, with many linked to viruses and bacteria like the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori (a common bacterium that infects the stomach lining).—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Those infected in South Carolina who haven’t yet developed encephalitis may yet do so.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While some lucky people never feel ill, that queasiness can be pretty debilitating for many others—more so in the first trimester, but occasionally throughout the entire pregnancy.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
SELF,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In September 2021, Valle began waking up with painful headaches that would become debilitating throughout the day.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on extending the subsidies, which failed.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Previous versions of the bill failed to gain traction in both chambers last year.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
