Debilitation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt/ de·bil·i·tate

Meaning & Definition of Debilitation

Debilitation (verb)

  1. to impair the strength of, enfeeble

Debilitation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body

    "the debilitation that all the prisoners of war had experienced during their captivity"

    similar: decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening
    related: atrophy, exhaustion, drooping, flagging, limping, regression, relapse, setback
    opposite: comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback
    near: invigoration, strengthening, progress, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

  2. the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor

    "attributed the patient's general debilitation to an iron deficiency"

    similar: asthenia, debility, delicacy, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, weakness, wimpiness
    related: decay, decrepitude, breakdown, collapse, prostration, exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness, defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness, effeteness, softness, tenderness, disablement, incapacitation, invalidism, damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injury
    opposite: hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor
    near: energy, vitality, brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility, hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness, health, healthiness, soundness, wellness

Related Entry: Debilitate (verb)

Debilitate is a different word from Debilitation. The synonyms below are for debilitate, not for debilitation.

  1. to diminish the physical strength of

    "the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears"

    similar: devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste, weaken
    related: cripple, disable, hamstring, incapacitate, deplete, depress, exhaust, impoverish, unman, wash out, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, invalid, lay up, break down, grind (down), wear down, wear out, paralyze
    opposite: beef (up), fortify, strengthen
    near: energize, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, vitalize, harden, season, toughen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Debilitation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Debilitation:

decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening, asthenia, debility, delicacy, enervation, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, weakness, wimpiness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Debilitation

Words with the opposite meaning of Debilitation:

comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback, hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor

Related Words for Debilitation

atrophy, exhaustion, drooping, flagging, limping, regression, relapse, setback, decrepitude, breakdown, collapse, prostration, fatigue, lassitude, weariness, defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness, effeteness, softness, tenderness, disablement, incapacitation, invalidism, damage, harm, hurt, impairment

Near Antonyms of Debilitation

invigoration, strengthening, progress, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, energy, vitality, brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility, hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness, health, healthiness, soundness, wellness

Word Forms of Debilitation

Inflections: debilitated, debilitating

Derived words: debilitation (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Debilitation

Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak

First known use: 1533

Frequently Asked Questions about Debilitation

What does "Debilitation" mean?

"Debilitation" means to impair the strength of, enfeeble. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to impair the strength of, enfeeble. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Debilitation"?

Other words for "Debilitation" include decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, descent, deterioration and ebbing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Debilitation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Debilitation"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Debilitation". Common alternatives include decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement and weakening.

What is the opposite of "Debilitation"?

Antonyms of "Debilitation" include comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization and snapback. Near antonyms include invigoration, strengthening, progress and rejuvenation.

How do you use "Debilitation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Debilitation" in a sentence: "the debilitation that all the prisoners of war had experienced during their captivity"; "attributed the patient's general debilitation to an iron deficiency".

Is "Debilitation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Debilitation" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Debilitation"?

"Debilitation" is pronounced /di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt/ and divided into syllables as de·bil·i·tate.

What is the origin of the word "Debilitation"?

"Debilitation" comes from Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak. First known use: 1533.