WEAKENS Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

weakens

verb

present tense third-person singular of weaken

as in softens

to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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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 If one connection weakens, Halo can use other available links to preserve connectivity. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026 Precipitation is expected to gradually taper off Thursday afternoon as the storm system moves east and weakens. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50, who become more vulnerable to the disease as the immune system weakens with age. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026 Mortgage rates would likely ease if oil prices retreat, inflation continues to cool, tariffs are reduced or the labor market weakens enough to strengthen expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, Jones says. — Mike Winters, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Narrowing the spread also weakens the incentive to steer patients toward costlier drugs and to acquire physician practices and infusion clinics — the very behaviors that have made care more expensive. — Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026 Fink said the churn weakens the tie between a worker and an employer. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Opponents argue the proposal weakens environmental protections, stifles community input and could fast-track projects like data centers and freeways. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Frozen soil that has held buildings, roads and pipelines for decades can start to sink as temperatures rise and the ice that bonds soil particles weakens. — Ming Xiao, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakens

Verb

After the first 10 handshakes, the chatter softens to a murmur.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
The Raylan Leather Armchair has timeless elegance, with high-quality, top-grain leather that develops a rich patina and softens with use.

— Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of softens

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

If the upcoming winter fails to deliver a banner snow season, recovering from the drought could take longer.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
The graph also fails to account for bigger developments in Russia’s diesel industry related to the strikes.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of fails

Verb

The cartilage between bones often thins more rapidly after age 60, too, leaving the femur and tibia with less cushioning, so the separation between the bones lessens or disappears.

— Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Rapid Growth That Doesn’t Last A quick burst of bright green growth might seem like success, but if your lawn suddenly looks lush and then collapses or thins out, something is off.

— Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of thins

Verb

In Whalefall, written and directed by Brian Duffield, Jay (Abrams) goes diving in the Pacific Ocean to find the remains of his late father Mitt (Josh Brolin), who took his own life a year before amid a terminal illness.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Based on Greaves’ short story, One Night Out centers on a married couple who head out to enjoy a rare date night when their babysitter goes missing.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of goes

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weakening

weakens

weakhearted

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“Weakens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakens. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of weakens

verb

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