as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the debilitation that all the prisoners of war had experienced during their captivity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
attributed the patient's general debilitation to an iron deficiency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debilitate
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
There was the lesion, the scans, the meds and the debilitating reactions to too much stimuli, which flared up when his three rambunctious children hit overdrive.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Andy Fata-Chan is a physical therapist and the founder of Moment Physical Therapy and Performance, which specializes in helping patients with chronic debilitating pain get back to high performance.
—Andy Fata-Chan, Contributor, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
In addition to facing unbearable losses, both had also unknowingly inhaled toxic debris that would spark a series of debilitating illnesses.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debilitate
Verb
Watson dove in to save his closest friend but suffered a debilitating blow to the head from a rock.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
There was the lesion, the scans, the meds and the debilitating reactions to too much stimuli, which flared up when his three rambunctious children hit overdrive.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Andy Fata-Chan is a physical therapist and the founder of Moment Physical Therapy and Performance, which specializes in helping patients with chronic debilitating pain get back to high performance.
—Andy Fata-Chan, Contributor, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
In addition to facing unbearable losses, both had also unknowingly inhaled toxic debris that would spark a series of debilitating illnesses.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debilitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitate
Verb
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Fed officials are closely monitoring inflation and the labor market for signs of a potentially weakening economy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
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But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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His environmental project launched the Institute’s research via an extensive study of the relationship between business practices and environmental deterioration.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Oklahoma City addressed most of its playoff weaknesses from last May.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
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This Jayhawks squad lacks the right pieces around Harris and Adams — players who could amplify their strengths while covering for some of their weaknesses.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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That helps to soften some of the graphic imagery, but the director says his primary intent was to allow viewers to experience the perspectives of kids.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 Feb. 2025
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Following weeks of negotiations, during which DeSantis seemed to soften his attacks on the lawmakers who opposed his plans, the governor signed the sweeping package of immigration laws on February 13.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Nor is stealth aided by growing evidence of his own neglectful self-care: exhaustion, panic attacks, blackouts, a limp from unattended jogging injuries, eventually audio and visual hallucinations.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
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However, the Magnificent 7 stocks have seen internal bifurcation in 2025, showing signs of exhaustion.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
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According to this view, the outside world has been generous to Africa, providing substantial aid in recent decades, leaving no excuse for the continent’s debility.—
Howard W. French,
Foreign Affairs,
16 June 2015
Noun
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The symptoms of fatigue may be masked temporarily — Red Bull helps — but, alas, they cannot be reversed.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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Symptoms may start days or weeks after consuming the bacteria and can include fever, muscle aches and fatigue.—
Katherine Dillinger,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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