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weaken

 
Dictionary: weak·en   ('kən) pronunciation
 
tr. & intr.v., -ened, -en·ing, -ens.

To make or become weak or weaker.

weakener weak'en·er n.
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Thesaurus: weaken
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verb

  1. To lose strength or power: decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, flag2, languish, sink, wane, waste (away). Informal fizzle (out). Idioms: go downhill, hit the skids. See increase/decrease, strong/weak.
  2. To lessen or deplete the nerve, energy, or strength of: attenuate, debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, sap2, undermine, undo, unnerve. See strong/weak.
  3. To lessen the strength of by or as if by admixture: attenuate, cut, dilute, thin, water (down). See strong/weak.
  4. To moderate or change a position or course of action as a result of pressure: ease off, relent, slacken, soften, yield. Idioms: givewayground. See strong/weak.

 
Antonyms: weaken
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v

Definition: reduce the strength of
Antonyms: build up, strengthen


 
WordNet: weaken
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 5 meanings:

Meaning #1: lessen the strength of
  Antonym: strengthen (meaning #1)

Meaning #2: become weaker
  Antonym: strengthen (meaning #2)

Meaning #3: destroy property or hinder normal operations
  Synonyms: sabotage, undermine, countermine, counteract, subvert

Meaning #4: reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
  Synonyms: de-escalate, step down

Meaning #5: lessen in force or effect
  Synonyms: dampen, damp, soften, break


 
Translations: Weaken
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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - svække, afkræfte, blive svag
v. intr. - give efter

Nederlands (Dutch)
verzwakken, afzwakken, verwateren, zwakker worden

Français (French)
v. tr. - affaiblir, fragiliser (qch), nuire à l'autorité de, diminuer, amoindrir, nuire à, ébranler (volonté), (Écon, Fin) affaiblir, faire baisser (prix)
v. intr. - s'affaiblir, fléchir, se relâcher (une alliance), faiblir (une amitié), (Écon, Fin) être en baisse

Deutsch (German)
v. - schwächen, entkräften, schwächer werden

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - εξασθενίζω, εξασθενώ, αποδυναμώνω/-ομαι, αδυνατίζω

Italiano (Italian)
indebolire, attenuare, smorzare, svanire

Português (Portuguese)
v. - enfraquecer, ceder

Русский (Russian)
ослаблять, ослабевать, утрачивать решимость, понизиться (о ценах)

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - debilitar, aflojar, disminuir, amortiguar, atenuar, flaquear
v. intr. - debilitarse, aflojarse, atenuarse

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - försvaga, matta

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
削弱, 使稀薄, 减弱, 变弱, 变软弱

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 削弱, 使稀薄, 減弱
v. intr. - 變弱, 變軟弱

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 약하게 하다, 묽게 하다
v. intr. - 약해지다, 우유부단해지다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 弱める, 薄める, 弱る, 不決断になる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يضعف, يوهن‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮החליש‬
v. intr. - ‮נחלש‬


 
 
Learn More
enervate
undermine
attenuation

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Antonyms. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
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