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
Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles.
—
Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.
—Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Just two days after Election Day, the Federal Reserve is set to announce its next interest rate decision, the first since officials cut interest rates by half of a percentage point and since unemployment data revealed a weakening labor market.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Many remember the double-digit inflation spikes of the 1970s, fueled by government spending, an oil crisis and a weakening dollar after the collapse of Bretton Woods.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for weaken 
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Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.
—Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Just two days after Election Day, the Federal Reserve is set to announce its next interest rate decision, the first since officials cut interest rates by half of a percentage point and since unemployment data revealed a weakening labor market.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Many remember the double-digit inflation spikes of the 1970s, fueled by government spending, an oil crisis and a weakening dollar after the collapse of Bretton Woods.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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