enfeeble
verb
en·fee·ble in-ˈfē-bəl 
en-
enfeebled; enfeebling in-ˈfē-b(ə-)liŋ
en-
transitive verb
: to make feeble : deprive of strength
enfeeblement
in-ˈfē-bəl-mənt
noun en-
Synonyms
- debilitate
- devitalize
- enervate
- etiolate
- prostrate
- sap
- soften
- tire
- waste
- weaken
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
long periods of being confined to a hospital bed will enfeeble anyone
Recent Examples on the Web The paradox is that trauma’s lingering impacts can enfeeble human connection, weakening even the strongest of social bonds. 
New York Times, 5 July 2022 How, in other words, fear and neglect, rather than the waywardness Vogel rails against, are what really enfeeble the mind. Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2022 The goal is to blunt criticism and enfeeble the opposition. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2021 The move may, in effect, enfeeble America's technology sector and, worse yet, leave the root problem—investigating terrorism, child predation, and criminality—unresolved as wrongdoers flock to alternative products. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 29 June 2020 India entered its sixth week of a stringent nationwide lockdown on Tuesday, pushing an economy already enfeebled before the pandemic to the brink of collapse. Fox News, 12 May 2020 Whatever the truth, the risk is the Anwar and Azmin camps wear each other down and enfeeble the Pakatan Harapan alliance, which Mahathir chairs. Washington Post, 8 July 2019 Meanwhile, the danger AI poses is rather of human tyranny, with machines enfeebling most people, physically and intellectually, so as to leave them at the mercy of a master-class. K.n.c., The Economist, 19 July 2019 More often than not, the result is to blunt the impact of the critique and enfeeble the opposition. Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 25 June 2018 See More
New York Times, 5 July 2022 How, in other words, fear and neglect, rather than the waywardness Vogel rails against, are what really enfeeble the mind. Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2022 The goal is to blunt criticism and enfeeble the opposition. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2021 The move may, in effect, enfeeble America's technology sector and, worse yet, leave the root problem—investigating terrorism, child predation, and criminality—unresolved as wrongdoers flock to alternative products. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 29 June 2020 India entered its sixth week of a stringent nationwide lockdown on Tuesday, pushing an economy already enfeebled before the pandemic to the brink of collapse. Fox News, 12 May 2020 Whatever the truth, the risk is the Anwar and Azmin camps wear each other down and enfeeble the Pakatan Harapan alliance, which Mahathir chairs. Washington Post, 8 July 2019 Meanwhile, the danger AI poses is rather of human tyranny, with machines enfeebling most people, physically and intellectually, so as to leave them at the mercy of a master-class. K.n.c., The Economist, 19 July 2019 More often than not, the result is to blunt the impact of the critique and enfeeble the opposition. Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 25 June 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English enfeblen, from Anglo-French enfebler, enfeblir, from en- + feble feeble
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
enfeebles
verb
as in weakens
to diminish the physical strength of long periods of being confined to a hospital bed will enfeeble anyone Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- weakens
- softens
- debilitates
- wastes
- enervates
- saps
- exhausts
- injures
- hurts
- paralyzes
- tires
- cripples
- damages
- depletes
- impairs
- devitalizes
- etiolates
- prostrates
- incapacitates
- disables
- impoverishes
- depresses
- unmans
- harms
- invalids
- hamstrings
- wears down
- washes out
- lays up
- wears out
- grinds (down)
- breaks down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthens
- fortifies
- invigorates
- energizes
- vitalizes
- rejuvenates
- hardens
- recruits
- seasons
- toughens
- beefs (up)