weakening 1 of 3

noun

Definition of weakeningnext
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body the all-too-apparent weakening of our grandfather was hard on our mother

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weakening

2 of 3

adjective

as in draining

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weakening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of weaken
1
as in softening
to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them

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2
as in fading
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 diluting
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 weakening
Verb
Moffett also said artificial intelligence isn’t driving an upgrade cycle as hoped, noting that there is weakening demand in China along with antitrust concerns. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025 With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report. — Jason Schenker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakening
  1. deterioration
  2. softening
  3. diluting
  4. debilitating
  5. thinning
  6. failing
  7. infecting
  8. injurious
Noun
  • Kahle, who early on recognized the ephemeral nature of the web, said the rapid deterioration of the living web is a serious threat to historical preservation.
    — Emma Bowman, NPR, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Of course, however, a severe deterioration in the U.S. economy would have global repercussions.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of deterioration
Verb
  • An iron deficiency may lead to nail changes such as softening and weakness.
    — Carrie Madormo, RN, Health, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Its intensely moisturizing formula features amino acids that make up the protein keratin (which is key for maintaining your hair’s structure and strength) and hair-softening plant extracts.
    — Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of softening
Verb
  • At least in the short run, this diluting might potentially have negative effects on the price per share as the market adjusts to the extra shares.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Businesses should ensure their monitoring strategies address both objectives where relevant, without diluting the specific focus of fraud prevention tools.
    — Einaras von Gravrock, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of diluting
Adjective
  • The day was filled with a range of speakers — including parents of children and young adults suffering from debilitating and tragic conditions.
    — Jack Kalavritinos, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Neuropathy is a debilitating type of pain caused by injury or damage to nerves.
    — Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of debilitating
Verb
  • In a photo Estrada used to announce a reward for his capture, Wedding had long, stringy hair that seemed to be thinning, steely blue eyes, and a beard.
    — Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
  • The women’s nutraceutical, shown here, comprises of minerals, vitamins, and other natural ingredients designed to tackle hair thinning in women aged 18 to 44.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2024
Definition of thinning
Verb
  • Given the constant demands by wind, solar, and EV company executives for more and more government subsidies to sustain their failing business models, this reality could become disastrous for those rent-seeking industries in the coming years as the era of crony capitalism comes to a close.
    — David Blackmon, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • But failing to advance beyond the wild-card round (not to mention losing in infamous or controversial fashion) isn’t what fans had in mind when the front office spoke about building a sustainable contender years ago.
    — Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of failing
Verb
  • About one year after infecting a human host, the Guinea worm creates a blister on the skin and emerges from it, which can cause burning pain, fever and swelling, according to the CDC and the World Health Organization.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The same Montana lab that tried infecting imitation human brain tissue with CWD published a paper that maps the bottom of the CWD prion.
    — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
Definition of infecting
Adjective
  • Erosion of trust within the GOP ranks is seen as injurious for the Speaker, whose legislative and political headaches are piling up, The Hill reports.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The members of Phi Kappa Psi were charged with at least one felony each, including recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public and violating the social host ordinance, prosecutors said.
    — Caleb Lunetta, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of injurious

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Cite this Entry

“Weakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakening. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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