DEBILITATED Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

debilitated 1 of 2

adjective

as in weak

lacking bodily strength the debilitated prisoners could barely stand

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debilitated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of debilitate

as in weakened

to diminish the physical strength of the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of debilitated

Verb

After being shocked with the glove, the officer screamed and dropped to the ground, briefly debilitated for the moment the glove made contact with his skin. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 12 Aug. 2026 In Desert Storm, the short duration of ground operations was made possible by an air campaign that debilitated Iraq’s entire military establishment. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Destruction of their livelihoods and more — they are debilitated. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Israel quickly debilitated Iran’s air defenses and caused significant damage to Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 The war, the latest and most extensive Israel offensive in the Gaza Strip, has greatly debilitated Hamas. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026 Amid an unprecedented cold snap in the Upper Florida Keys, six juvenile green sea turtles were discovered debilitated by frigid waters and are now undergoing intensive care at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debilitated

Adjective

The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

Instead of using a mirror to gather starlight, MOTHRA has many telephoto lenses, like those on a camera, which can capture faintly glowing wisps of gas and other feeble emanations across a wider field of view.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeble

Verb

Conversely, timid or softened feedback delivered to struggling employees creates a false sense of security, signaling that there is no urgency to adjust course.

— Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Add the sweet peppers and cook until just softened, about 2 minutes.

— Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of softened

Adjective

Mujahid and Barbosa say the 19-year-old had appeared frail, but also rarely appeared at all.

— Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Research suggests that starting a program of high-intensity resistance exercise can help people grow less frail, if continued over at least a few months.

— Veronique Greenwood, Time, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of frail

Adjective

An unidentified projectile struck and disabled an oil tanker about nine nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Ash Shishah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
An oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile and disabled near Oman on Monday, according to an incident report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disabled

Verb

Fellow striker Ricardo Pepi tired out the Australian back line all day.

— Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2025

Definition of tired

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“Debilitated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debilitated. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of debilitated

adjective

verb

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