Word

weaken, v.
(weakened, weakening, weakens)
freq. cnt. 10

lessen the strength of
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 6 freq. cnt.: 6

weaken

sample sentences

"The fever weakened his body"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

weakening weakener

antonym

strengthen

semantic pointers

hyponym

de-energize, de-energise break devitalize, devitalise shake depress unbrace etiolate cripple, stultify dilute, thin, thin out, reduce, cut rarefy, attenuate blunt temper, season, mollify, moderate debilitate, enfeeble, drain enervate dampen neutralize, neutralise, nullify, negate emasculate, castrate wash out

hypernym

change, alter, modify

cause

weaken

become weaker
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2

weaken

sample sentences

"The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days"

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

weakening

antonym

strengthen

semantic pointers

hypernym

decrease, diminish, lessen, fall

hyponym

attenuate melt, disappear, evaporate die down collapse fade, melt subside, lessen blur, dim, slur languish, pine away, waste dull pall relax, loosen, loose slacken slacken, slow, slow down, slow up, slack wilt

reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

de-escalate step down weaken

sample sentences

"de-escalate a crisis"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

weakener

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

de-escalation

antonym

escalate

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

step-down

semantic pointers

hypernym

decrease, lessen, minify

destroy property or hinder normal operations
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 8 freq. cnt.: 7 freq. cnt.: 1

counteract countermine sabotage subvert undermine weaken

sample sentences

"The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

sabotage

semantic pointers

hyponym

derail

hypernym

disobey

lessen in force or effect
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

break damp dampen soften weaken