transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈwē-kən ]
verb
( weak·ened ; weak·en·ing ˈwēk-niŋ, ˈwē-kə-)
Date: 1530
transitive verb
1. : to make weak : lessen the strength of
2. : to reduce in intensity or effectiveness
intransitive verb
: to become weak
• weak·en·er ˈwēk-nər, ˈwē-kə- noun
Synonyms:
weaken , enfeeble , debilitate , undermine , sap , cripple , disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor. weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power
a disease that weakens the body's defenses
. enfeeble implies an obvious and pitiable condition of weakness and helplessness
enfeebled by starvation
debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality
the debilitating effects of surgery
undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously
a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think
cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element
crippled by arthritis
disable suggests a usually sudden crippling or enfeebling
disabled soldiers received an immediate discharge