Passions weaken, but habits strengthen, with age.
Source: tatoeba (268511)
Weaken
/ˈwikən/
Synonyms for "weaken" (441 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (89)
Verb(19 words)
abateadulterateafflictaggravateallayalleviateassuageattemperattenuatebank the firebatebeatbluntblurbreakbuggerburn outcave inchastencollapse
Show 27 more words
come apartcome unstuckconk outconstraincontractcontrolcrampcripplecrumblecutdamagedampdampende emphasizede energizede-emphasizede-energizedeadendebasedebilitatedecaydeclinedegeneratedegradedematerializedemoralizedeplete
Noun(18 words)
Adjective(5 words)
Strong matches (132)
Verb(35 words)
depleteddepletesderogatingdestabilizedestructsdevitalisedilutedilute evidencedilute inkdiluteddilutesdiminishdiminish effectivenessdiscouragesdisemboweldisempowerdisillusioningdrain staminadullsemasculated
Noun(26 words)
depletingdestabilizingdetrimentsdilute aciddilute brothdilute colorless solutiondilute dyedilute juicedilute saucedilute solutiondilute solventdilutingdiluting broth stepdiluting juicediluting saucediminishingdivide and conquerdrinking water plantenfeeblingerosion grooves
depressderangedestroydeterioratedevitalizedilapidatedilutediminishdisabledisedgedisembodydisenabledisintegratedisorderdo indo updownplaydraindraw the teethdroop
Show 40 more words
Adjective(11 words)
dilute flavordilute gas statediluted tenfolddiluting brothdiminisheddispiriteddisunifiedemaciatedenervatedenfeebledfatigued
Related words (220)
Verb(34 words)
hinderimpairedimpairingimpairslameslanguishedlessenneuteredneutralizedpauperizespeteredprostratedprostratesprostratingsabotagesagstep downsubvertsubvertingsuffered
Show 14 more words
underminedunderminesundo influenceunhingeunsettlewanewater down claimwater down policywater downedwateredwatered plantsweaken claimweariedworn
hit the skidshoneycombhors de combathospitalizehurtimpairinactivateincapacitateindisposeinjureinvalidirritatejadekeep within boundskiboshknock outknock uplamelanguishlay
Show 120 more words
lay lowlay uplenifylessenlightenloosenlose strengthmaimmake worseminimizemitigatemoderatemodulateobtundoverfatigueoversetoverstrainoverthrowovertireoverturnoverwearypalliateparalyzepeakpeg outpeter outpineplay downpooppoop outprostrateputput backqueerqueer the worksrarefyrattlereducereduce the temperaturerelapserelaxremitrepressrestrainretundrun downsabotagesapsap the foundationsshakeshake upshrinksickensinkslackslackenslow downsmothersobersober downsoftensoften upspikespiritualizestiflestultifysubduesubtilizesubvertsuppresstake the edge offtametapertemperthinthin awaythin downthin outthrow downthrow overtiretire outtire to deathtone downtrailtuckertune downturnunbraceundermineunderplayunfitunmanunnerveunstrengthenunstringupendupsetuse upvitiatewanewastewaste awaywaterwater downwearwear awaywear downwear onwear outwear thinwearywiltwindwingwitherwither awayworsenwreckyield
Noun(41 words)
impoverishingmore wateredmost dilutemost waterednerfneuterneuteringpower declinesap energysappingsapsundercutundercutsundercuttingunderminerunderminingundermining credibilityundermining trustwater applicationwater down solution
Determiner(2 words)
more watering canno plan to water
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: attenuate, soften, undermine, abate, adulterate.
- Sentence evidence is available for weaken, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, wordnet, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "weaken".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "weaken"
Keep "weaken" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "weaken" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "weaken", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "weaken" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
5 entriesWeakening concentrationWeakening credibilityWeakening defensesWeakening immune systemWeakening stamina
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
As expectation increases that the dollar will weaken, the foreign exchange market's reaction to US economic indicators has been fairly muted.
Source: tatoeba (327588)
If the spectators made fun of the other team, then it would weaken their morale.
Source: tatoeba (1307479)
They watched her gradually weaken as the disease progressed.
Source: tatoeba (1597392)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "weaken"?
Closest matches include attenuate, soften, undermine, abate, adulterate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "weaken"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.