weaken B2 Topic:Cause, Change & Process US /ˈwikən/ See IPA manual Freq #15889 Meanings 1 verb To make something or someone less strong. The long illness had weakened her badly. 2 verb To become less strong or less determined. Over the years my enthusiasm for the job has weakened. 3 verb To reduce the level, force, or effect of something. Heavy spending could weaken the country's economy. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to make something or... emasculate 3 verb · to reduce the level, force,... de-escalate More attenuatebluntdiluteenfeeblehebetatesag Word family Forms weakenedweakeningweakens Etymology AI details From weak + -en. Topics Cause, Change & Process External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # weaken **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈwikən/ **Frequency rank:** 15889 ## Meanings 1. To make something or someone less strong. 2. To become less strong or less determined. 3. To reduce the level, force, or effect of something. ## Examples - The long illness had weakened her badly. - Over the years my enthusiasm for the job has weakened. - Heavy spending could weaken the country's economy. ## Synonyms - attenuate - blunt - dilute - enfeeble - hebetate - sag ## Etymology From weak + -en. ## AI Etymology Weaken is from weak + -en. In present-day use, it can mean to make something or someone less strong, or to become less strong or less determined. ## Topics - Cause, Change & Process markdown