weakens

verb

present tense third-person singular of weaken
1
as in softens
to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them

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2
as in fades
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 dilutes
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 weakens In a turnaround, the danger is that cutting so deeply weakens the capabilities needed for recovery. — Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Every decision that follows—from financial management to customer experience—either strengthens or weakens that identity. — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 But a cheap currency also weakens Japan's purchasing power overall, pushing up costs for the imports of oil and other essential goods. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026 Water limits visibility and weakens the effectiveness of traditional surveillance systems such as radar. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026 Prolonged screen time tightens the muscles that support the neck and weakens the deep neck flexors responsible for holding the head aligned over the spine. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens
  1. softens
  2. fades
  3. dilutes
  4. sags
  5. infects
  6. fails
  7. thins
  8. goes
Verb
  • Once that inner conversation softens, connection to others tends to follow.
    — Jan Gerber, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The versatile pair will quickly become their everyday staple, with premium Venetian leather that softens and develops character with every wear.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of softens
Verb
  • Slowing down to test demand, unit economics and operational readiness helps companies avoid costly overexpansion and build growth that lasts after the hype fades.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Many health devices end up forgotten in a drawer after the novelty fades.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • When a company dilutes its shareholders, the stock’s value has a high probability of declining.
    — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Instead, the new exhibit dilutes the story of slavery by surrounding it with material that has little to do with the President’s House at all, such as biographies of individual Founders and the ins and outs of various constitutional structures.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
Definition of dilutes
Verb
  • Unfortunately, using too little paint will leave patchy areas and harsh lines, and using too much paint will promote drips and paint that sags.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
  • There is no scrapeable archive of how to grasp a wet cup, unload a box that sags in the middle, fold a towel, or help an older adult out of a chair.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of sags
Verb
  • What to know about rabbit fever Caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis, the disease commonly infects rabbits, hares and rodents.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of infects
Verb
  • The bill fails to address the true drivers of rising premiums.
    — Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • West Brom’s fortunes may ebb and flow but the highest ground in the EFL, at 542 feet above sea level, rarely fails to deliver.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of fails
Verb
  • As collagen production declines with age, that support breaks down, which is a key reason why skin gradually thins and develops fine lines and wrinkles.
    — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This adoption is happening while the American open-weight bench thins out.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of thins
Verb
  • But what happens when the showgirl goes home, wipes off her makeup, and is left to sit with her dark blue feelings?
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection goes a step further by making these partnerships part of the yacht’s design and the overall guest experience.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of goes

Browse Nearby Words

weakening
weakens
weakhearted
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Cite this Entry

“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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