weaken

/'wi:kən/
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weaken

The long illness began to weaken his muscles.

Definition

  1. Verb (Transitive):

    • To make something or someone less strong, powerful, or effective; to reduce the force, intensity, or physical strength of something.
    • To undermine or reduce the structural integrity, resolve, or intensity of something.

  2. Verb (Intransitive):

    • To become less strong, powerful, or effective; to diminish in force, intensity, or physical strength.
Usage

  • Transitive Verb (to weaken something/someone):

    • Use when an external agent or force causes a reduction in strength or effectiveness.
    • Example: The prolonged drought will weaken the foundation of the building.
    • Example: Constant criticism can weaken a person's self-confidence.

  • Intransitive Verb (something weakens):

    • Use when the subject itself undergoes a process of becoming less strong.
    • Example: The storm finally began to weaken as it moved inland.
    • Example: His influence in the company weakened after the scandal.
Examples

  • Transitive Use:

    • Adding too much water will weaken the adhesive.
    • The new evidence could weaken the prosecution's case.

  • Intransitive Use:

    • The patient's pulse weakened overnight.
    • The dollar weakened against the euro in today's trading.
Advanced Usage

  • Weaken (in a military/strategic context): To reduce the operational capacity or morale of an opposing force.

    • The goal of the campaign was to weaken the enemy's supply lines.

  • Weaken (in an economic context): For a currency or market to lose value or strength.

    • The report caused investor confidence to weaken.
Variants and Related Words

  • Weakened (Adjective): Made less strong or powerful.

    • He spoke in a weakened voice after his illness.

  • Weakener (Noun): Something that causes weakening. (Less common)

    • Stress is a known weakener of the immune system.
Synonyms
  • Diminish: To make or become less.
  • Undermine: To weaken gradually or insidiously.
  • Sap: To gradually weaken or drain of energy.
  • Enfeeble: To make weak or feeble (often implies a more severe state).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Weaken (no common separable phrasal verb): The verb "weaken" is typically not used with particles to form distinct phrasal verbs. The meaning is carried by the verb itself.
Related Idioms
  • To weaken someone's resolve: To make someone less determined.
    • The tempting offer began to weaken her resolve to leave the company.
weaken

The long illness began to weaken his muscles.

Verb
  1. lessen in force or effect
    • soften a shock
    • break a fall
  2. reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
    • de-escalate a crisis
  3. destroy property or hinder normal operations
    • The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war
  4. become weaker
    • The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days
  5. lessen the strength of
    • The fever weakened his body

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