etiolating

verb

present participle of etiolate
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of the long, stressful days and sleepless nights gradually etiolated him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for etiolating
  1. weakening
  2. softening
  3. wasting
Verb
  • Sansoni’s study suggests that years of scrolling on Instagram can weaken our ability to rely on these inner signals, essentially weakening our brain’s ability to accurately perceive its own face and body.
    — Nicole Karlis, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The danger Pelath is concerned about is when the river banks are saturated, some root systems let go, sending more trees into the river and weakening the banks.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • Wrap loosely in a paper towel and place in a perforated bag or container to help absorb excess moisture, which will slow down softening.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The softening job market may complicate the calculation for the Federal Reserve, which is also battling stubborn inflation.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of softening
Verb
  • The process has been criticized for wasting workers’ time and raising their expectations but is not required under the law.
    — Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Both of these smart systems allow homeowners to ensure their lawns or gardens are hydrated without wasting water.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of wasting
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.

Browse Nearby Words

etiolates
etiolating
etiquette
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Cite this Entry

“Etiolating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/etiolating. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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