weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.
a disease that weakens the body's defenses
enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
enfeebled by starvation
debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
the debilitating effects of surgery
undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think
cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
crippled by arthritis
disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
disabled by an injury sustained at work
Example Sentences
She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss. The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government.
Recent Examples on the WebBut rates that escalate, and escalate fast, could undermine those bright spots. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 People who condemn the police, including its black and brown officers, as agents of a racist system undermine the nation.WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Hunger and poor nutrition can significantly undermine learning. Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Daring to risk that movement, and undermine the on-court product, for a slightly bigger piece of the, pie could be risky, and would unquestionably send a poor message to the millions of fans who are tuning in worldwide. Morten Jensen, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Delaying a national climate emergency declaration even this long, however, may undermine the core argument that a crisis is at hand. Will Weissert, ajc, 13 Aug. 2022 Provisions favoring fossil fuels could undermine climate goals. Benjy Sarlin, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2022 The visit could also undermine the Biden administration’s strategy of building economic and diplomatic ties in Asia to counter Beijing.New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 An emergency move to keep gas cheap, that is, could easily undermine one to save the planet. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 See More