weakened; weakening
; weakens
ˈwēk-niŋ,
ˈwē-kə-
; weakens
1
: to make weak : lessen the strength of
2
: to reduce in intensity or effectiveness
: to become weak
Synonyms
Examples of weaken in a Sentence
The disease weakens the immune system.
Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy.
The beams had been weakened by water damage.
efforts to weaken environmental laws
The recent setbacks have not weakened our resolve.
These kinds of contradictions weaken your argument.
The disease causes the immune system to weaken.
The dollar has continued to weaken against the euro.
Lower interest rates have weakened the dollar.
Recent Examples on the Web
The widening yield differentials between Chinese and U.S. sovereign bonds could risk encouraging capital outflows and put further pressure on the yuan that has been weakening against the greenback.
—
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
Elon Musk, one of Trump’s confidants, has already met with Iran’s UN ambassador; now that Israel has weakened Tehran and pummeled its proxies in the Middle East, a diplomatic breakthrough may be achievable.
—Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Some of those decisions, like the 2023 counteroffensive and the 2024 offensive in Kursk, Russia, have weakened Ukraine on the battlefield and therefore hurt its position when negotiations commence.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Air pollution experts note that blueprints from conservative groups with connections to Trump, such as Project 2025 and America First Agenda, have policy proposals that will weaken the environmental agency’s authority to enforce strict air quality standards.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for weaken 
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Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
Elon Musk, one of Trump’s confidants, has already met with Iran’s UN ambassador; now that Israel has weakened Tehran and pummeled its proxies in the Middle East, a diplomatic breakthrough may be achievable.
—Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Some of those decisions, like the 2023 counteroffensive and the 2024 offensive in Kursk, Russia, have weakened Ukraine on the battlefield and therefore hurt its position when negotiations commence.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Air pollution experts note that blueprints from conservative groups with connections to Trump, such as Project 2025 and America First Agenda, have policy proposals that will weaken the environmental agency’s authority to enforce strict air quality standards.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for weaken
Dictionary Entries Near weaken
Cite this Entry
“Weaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weaken. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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