debilitate
verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
Debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, and sap all share the general sense "to weaken." But while debilitate holds the distinction among these words of coming from the Latin word for "weak"—debilis—it packs a potent punch. Often used of disease or something that strikes like a disease or illness, debilitate might suggest a temporary impairment—but a pervasive one at that. Enfeeble, a very close synonym of debilitate, connotes a pitiable, but often reversible, condition of weakness and helplessness. Undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
Synonyms
- devitalize
- enervate
- enfeeble
- etiolate
- prostrate
- sap
- soften
- tire
- waste
- weaken
Example Sentences
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 This Investigation Discovery show will delight true crime fanatics but may debilitate those with trust issues. Briana Richert, EW.com, 11 July 2022 Burnout, if left unattended, can debilitate our mental, physical and emotional health. J. Gerald Suarez, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 The ministry said Moscow could be expected to continue bombarding the region from the air to debilitate Ukrainian air defenses as Russia builds up forces on the ground. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 Chinese defense officials say the SJ-21 is meant to dispose of space debris, but US Space Command says the same arm can debilitate or disable rival satellites. Khari Johnson, Wired, 15 Mar. 2022 Republicans view the Democrats’ legislative plans as an overreach of excess spending and have accused Mr. Biden of careening from one crisis to another, saying both will debilitate the party’s midterm message next year. Ken Thomas, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2021 The flu does not knock you down and debilitate you like COVID-19. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2021 The absence of strong copyright laws continues to debilitate Cambodian cinema. BostonGlobe.com, 22 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak
1533, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
debilitate
verb
Medical Definition
debilitate
transitive verb
debilitate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- weaken
- soften
- injure
- paralyze
- enervate
- enfeeble
- waste
- hurt
- exhaust
- cripple
- devitalize
- sap
- damage
- incapacitate
- impair
- tire
- deplete
- depress
- impoverish
- prostrate
- harm
- disable
- etiolate
- hamstring
- unman
- invalid
- lay up
- wash out
- wear out
- wear down
- grind (down)
- break down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthen
- fortify
- energize
- recruit
- invigorate
- rejuvenate
- beef (up)
- harden
- vitalize
- season
- toughen
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of debilitate are cripple, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
The words cripple and debilitate can be used in similar contexts, but cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
While in some cases nearly identical to debilitate, disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
Although the words enfeeble and debilitate have much in common, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
Both undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
While the synonyms weaken and debilitate are close in meaning, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.