Meaning of weaken in English

Table of contents

Verb
weaken
Definitions
1. lessen the strength of
Examples
- « The fever weakened his body »
Antonyms
Derived terms
- weakener
- weakening
2. become weaker
Examples
- « The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days »
Antonyms
- strengthen
Derived terms
- weakening
3. destroy property or hinder normal operations
Examples
- « The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war »
Derived terms
- sabotage
4. reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
Examples
- « de-escalate a crisis »
Antonyms
Derived terms
5. lessen in force or effect
Examples
- « soften a shock »
- « break a fall »
Derived terms
- damper
- weakener

Famous quotes

« As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you. »
Morihei Ueshiba
« The failure of national economic policy is costing us more than jobs it has begun to weaken that uniquely American spirit of risk-taking, large ambition, and optimism about the future. We must rally them now to bold departures that rebuild our national morale as well as our material prosperity. »
Mitch Daniels
« Having yet another vote on refinery legislation that uses high oil prices as an excuse to weaken environmental protections and to give more legislative gifts to the oil industry is misguided in the extreme. »
Sherwood Boehlert
« It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. »
Mahatma Gandhi
« Increased government spending can provide a temporary stimulus to demand and output but in the longer run higher levels of government spending crowd out private investment or require higher taxes that weaken growth by reducing incentives to save, invest, innovate, and work. »
Martin Feldstein