verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb

1. 1
   To make weaker or less strong. transitive

   "weaken a bond"

2. 2
   become weaker wordnet
3. 3
   To become weaker or less strong. intransitive

   "Over the years my enthusiasm for the job has weakened."

4. 4
   lessen the strength of wordnet
5. 5
   reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of wordnet

Show 2 more definitions

6. 6
   lessen in force or effect wordnet
7. 7
   destroy property or hinder normal operations wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

attenuatecrampcrippledampendebilitatedevitalize

Antonyms

All antonyms

fortifyabetbuildimpel

Example

More examples

"Passions weaken, but habits strengthen, with age."

Etymology

From weak + -en.

Related phrases

weaken up

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.