Weakened — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈwē-kən/ weak·en

Meaning & Definition of Weakened

Weakened (verb)

  1. to make weak, lessen the strength of
  2. to reduce in intensity or effectiveness
  3. to become weak

Weakened (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. containing foreign or lower-grade substances

    "the pharmacist, motivated by pure greed, would pass off the weakened drugs to unsuspecting customers, some of whom had life-threatening illnesses"

    similar: adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, tainted, thinned
    related: unclarified, unfiltered, unrefined, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, corrupted, debased, defiled, dirtied, fouled, maculate, soiled, spoiled, sullied, blended, commingled, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, mixed, coalesced, combined, compounded, cheapened, doctored
    opposite: fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted
    near: clarified, filtered, purified, refined, ultrarefined, neat, plain, straight, concentrated, strong, uncombined, pasteurized, sterile, sterilized, clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied

  2. lacking bodily strength

    "left weakened by a prolonged illness"

    similar: asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, softened, tender, unsubstantial, wasted, weak, wimpish, wimpy
    related: disabled, incapacitated, invalid, paralyzed, broken-down, decrepit, impotent, powerless, breakable, flimsy, fragile, dizzy, groggy, rocky, unsteady, woozy, drained, exhausted, flagging, tired, weary, worn-out, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, unsound, resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding
    opposite: mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong
    near: able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, fit, husky, muscular, sinewy, strapping, virile, hard, hardy, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sturdy, tough, fortified, hardened, inured, strengthened, toughened, energetic, energized, invigorated, vigorous, vitalized, hale, healthy, sound, capable, competent, convalescing, recovering, recuperating

  3. lacking strength of will or character

    "the nation's people, weakened by years of tyranny, tended to automatically obey anyone with an authoritative manner"

    similar: characterless, effete, frail, invertebrate, limp-wristed, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, nerveless, soft, spineless, weak, weak-kneed, weakling, wet (British), wimpish, wimpy, wishy-washy
    related: flabby, flaccid, forceless, ineffective, ineffectual, impotent, impuissant, powerless, emasculated, unnerved, lamblike, meek, pliable, submissive, corrupt, dastardly, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous, cowardly, craven, fainthearted, lily-livered, nebbishy, poltroon, pusillanimous, sissy, timid, infirm, irresolute, vacillating
    opposite: backboned, firm, hard, strong, tough
    near: ethical, good, moral, principled, right, righteous, upright, virtuous, determined, mettlesome, resolute, unrelenting, courageous, stalwart, stouthearted

  4. not containing very much of some important element

    "some experts recommend that runners drink a weakened mixture of juice and water"

    similar: dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, washy, watery, weak
    related: adulterated, watered-down
    opposite: full-bodied, rich, strong
    near: enriched, fortified, concentrated, condensed, evaporated

Weakened (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to diminish the physical strength of

    "weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them"

    similar: debilitated, devitalized, enervated, enfeebled, etiolated, prostrated, sapped, softened, tired, wasted
    related: crippled, disabled, hamstrung, incapacitated, depleted, depressed, exhausted, impoverished, unmanned, washed out, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, invalided, laid up, broke down, ground (down), wore down, wore out, paralyzed
    opposite: beefed (up), fortified, strengthened
    near: energized, invigorated, recruited, rejuvenated, vitalized, hardened, seasoned, toughened

  2. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts"

    similar: decayed, drooped, emaciated, faded, failed, flagged, lagged, languished, sagged, sank, wasted (away), went, wilted, withered
    related: broke down, wore out, yielded, degenerated, deteriorated, ran down, rotted
    near: convalesced, rallied, rebounded, recovered, recuperated, gained

  3. to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances

    "weakened the juice with too much water"

    similar: adulterated, cut, diluted, extended, laced, sophisticated, thinned, watered down
    related: loaded, befouled, contaminated, corrupted, defiled, dirtied, envenomed, fouled, infected, poisoned, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted, cheapened, debased, degraded, manipulated, misrepresented, tampered (with), counterfeited, faked, falsified, fudged, doctored, spiked, attenuated, moderated, qualified, tempered
    opposite: enriched, fortified, richened, strengthened
    near: fertilized, larded, augmented, reinforced, supplemented, decontaminated, purified, clarified, cleaned, cleansed, distilled, filtered, flushed, leached, pasteurized, purged, refined, bettered, enhanced, improved, compacted, concentrated, condensed

Related Entry: Weaken (verb)

Weaken is a different word from Weakened. The synonyms below are for weaken, not for weakened.

  1. to diminish the physical strength of

    "weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them"

    similar: debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste
    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

  2. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts"

    similar: decay, droop, emaciate, fade, fail, flag, go, lag, languish, sag, sink, waste (away), wilt, wither
    related: break down, wear out, yield, degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run down
    near: convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate, gain

  3. to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances

    "weakened the juice with too much water"

    similar: adulterate, cut, dilute, extend, lace, sophisticate, thin, water down
    related: load, befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint, cheapen, debase, degrade, manipulate, misrepresent, tamper (with), counterfeit, fake, falsify, fudge, doctor, spike, attenuate, moderate, qualify, temper
    opposite: enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen
    near: fertilize, lard, augment, reinforce, supplement, decontaminate, purify, clarify, clean, cleanse, distill, filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine, better, enhance, improve, compact, concentrate, condense

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Weakened

The most common words with a similar meaning to Weakened:

British: wet
adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, tainted, thinned, asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, softened, tender, unsubstantial, wasted, weak, wimpish, wimpy, characterless, invertebrate, limp-wristed, milk-and-water, namby-pamby

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Weakened

Words with the opposite meaning of Weakened:

fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted, mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, backboned, firm, hard, tough, full-bodied, rich, beefed (up), fortified, strengthened, enriched, richened

Related Words for Weakened

unclarified, unfiltered, unrefined, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, corrupted, debased, defiled, dirtied, fouled, maculate, soiled, spoiled, sullied, blended, commingled, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, mixed, coalesced, combined, compounded, cheapened, doctored, disabled

Near Antonyms of Weakened

clarified, filtered, purified, refined, ultrarefined, neat, plain, straight, concentrated, uncombined, pasteurized, sterile, sterilized, clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied, able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, fit, husky, muscular, sinewy, strapping, virile, hardy

Word Forms of Weakened

Inflections: weakening, weakens

Derived words: weakener (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Weakened

First known use: circa 1529t

Frequently Asked Questions about Weakened

What does "Weakened" mean?

"Weakened" means to make weak, lessen the strength of. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make weak, lessen the strength of. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Weakened"?

Other words for "Weakened" include adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure and polluted. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Weakened" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Weakened"?

There are 196 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Weakened". Common alternatives include adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, tainted and thinned.

What is the opposite of "Weakened"?

Antonyms of "Weakened" include fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut and undiluted. Near antonyms include clarified, filtered, purified and refined.

How do you use "Weakened" in a sentence?

Examples of "Weakened" in a sentence: "the pharmacist, motivated by pure greed, would pass off the weakened drugs to unsuspecting customers, some of whom had life-threatening illnesses"; "left weakened by a prolonged illness"; "the nation's people, weakened by years of tyranny, tended to automatically obey anyone with an authoritative manner".

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

"Weakened" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Weakened"?

"Weakened" is pronounced /ˈwē-kən/ and divided into syllables as weak·en.

What is the origin of the word "Weakened"?

First known use: circa 1529t.