debilitate

verb

de·bil·i·tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio)

dē-

debilitated; debilitating

transitive verb

: to impair the strength of : enfeeble

sailors debilitated by scurvy

an economy debilitated by years of civil war

debilitation

di-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce debilitate (audio)

dē-

noun

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.

Example Sentences

The virus debilitates the body's immune system. the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

Recent Examples on the Web Taking out the leadership of the railway would debilitate the nation’s primary transportation network and, therefore, the entire country.

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

单词	debilitated
释义	debilitate verb de·bil·i·tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt dē- debilitated; debilitating transitive verb : to impair the strength of : enfeeble sailors debilitated by scurvy an economy debilitated by years of civil war debilitation di-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən dē- noun 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 See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The virus debilitates the body's immune system. the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears Recent Examples on the Web Taking out the leadership of the railway would debilitate the nation’s primary transportation network and, therefore, the entire country. 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 Etymology Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak First Known Use 1533, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition debilitate verb de·bil·i·tate di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt debilitated; debilitating : to make feeble : weaken a debilitating disease Medical Definition debilitate transitive verb de·bil·i·tate di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt debilitated; debilitating : to impair the strength of a body debilitated by disease debilitated 1 of 2 adjective as in weak lacking bodily strength the debilitated prisoners could barely stand Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance weak weakened feeble frail disabled enfeebled paralyzed incapacitated infirm exhausted enervated injured sapped tired prostrated vulnerable faint softened prostrate wasted asthenic languid wimpy low slight fragile challenged weary wimpish soft effete drained unsubstantial delicate tender impaired damaged down-and-out decrepit impotent dizzy powerless unsteady invalid hurt groggy susceptible harmed broken-down rocky lame woozy flimsy unsound breakable flagging worn-out resistless unresistant yielding Antonyms & Near Antonyms powerful strong mighty muscular virile rugged stalwart tough sinewy strengthened athletic hardy stout brawny hard fit robust hardened beefy energetic sturdy vitalized lusty vigorous husky fortified toughened healthy energized able-bodied strapping competent capable inured invigorated sound recovering hale red-blooded convalescing recuperating See More debilitated 2 of 2 verb past tense of debilitate as in weakened to diminish the physical strength of the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears Synonyms & Similar Words weakened enfeebled exhausted softened tired injured enervated wasted paralyzed sapped damaged hurt crippled devitalized incapacitated impaired etiolated depressed depleted prostrated disabled impoverished hamstrung harmed invalided unmanned laid up washed out wore down wore out ground (down) broke down Antonyms & Near Antonyms strengthened fortified energized recruited invigorated rejuvenated vitalized hardened beefed (up) seasoned toughened See More
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debilitate

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Medical Definition

transitive verb

adjective

verb