1
as in to soften
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them
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2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of weaken
The big picture: Four of the biggest blazes remained zero percent contained during low relative humidity and high winds that were beginning to weaken on Wednesday evening, though fresh spot fires ignited and a new blaze in the Hollywood Hills prompted fresh mandatory evacuation orders.
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Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
All of this has served to weaken the hand of President Emmanuel Macron at home.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Material handling data from the industry group MHI weakened in December compared to November.
—Jason Schenker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
By consolidating his authority within a small circle of loyalists, Xi has weakened the internal checks and balances that might otherwise temper policy decisions.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for weaken 
Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
All of this has served to weaken the hand of President Emmanuel Macron at home.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Material handling data from the industry group MHI weakened in December compared to November.
—Jason Schenker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
By consolidating his authority within a small circle of loyalists, Xi has weakened the internal checks and balances that might otherwise temper policy decisions.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for weaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weaken
Verb
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The surge in immigrants arriving in Colorado last year softened the enrollment decline in the state’s public schools, which for years have been losing students — and funding — as birth rates fall across the nation.Jessica Seaman, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025
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Can a crispy chicken sandwich or a whisky cocktail soften the blow of existential despair?Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sunlight had begun to fade, casting a shadow on the space.Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
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Saturn, nearby, will become visible to the naked eye as dusk fades to darkness and remain observable for around three-and-a-half hours past sunset, at which point the pair will sink below the horizon and out of view.Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Over-reliance on logos weakens brands over time, just as an over-saturation of stores dilutes their allure.Stéphane JG Girod, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
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Chlorine beach is an excellent disinfectant for the kitchen but even if it is diluted with water, surfaces should be rinsed before they are used for food preparation.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some employees were injured during an explosion Monday at a facility in Heber Springs, according to the city's fire department.Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 14 Jan. 2025
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There is strong evidence, in both animals and people, that exposure to even a single blast can injure blood vessels in a way that initiates a cascade of repair mechanisms.Jon Hamilton, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On the other hand: The Chargers’ defense sagged against Baltimore and Tampa Bay in the second half of the year.Jordan Brenner, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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But the skin can undergo changes in midlife too, including sagging, thinning and becoming more dry.Erica Sweeney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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McAfee has disputed that Raw Farm's milk could have infected the cats with bird flu, citing preliminary research.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
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Immunity from whooping cough tends to fade about seven years after you’ve been vaccinated or infected by the bacteria.Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In a collective disaster such as Hurricane Helene, some researchers forecast 20-40% of a population will experience post-traumatic stress disorder, which can be debilitating and peak months or years after a traumatic event.Katia Riddle, NPR, 8 Jan. 2025
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Patients like Cerulli will often have symptoms like debilitating back pain and stiffness that worsen with rest.Brittany Risher, SELF, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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TikTok's last-ditch legal challenge failed on Friday, when the Supreme Court said the law does not violate the First Amendment.Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
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Then one of the legs failed and the lander fell over.David Szondy, New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weaken. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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