weaken
1. lessen the strength of (Freq. 6)
- The fever weakened his body
• Ant:
strengthen
• Derivationally related forms:
weakener, weakening
• Hypernyms:
change, alter, modify
• Hyponyms:
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, enfeeble,
debilitate, drain, enervate, dampen, neutralize, neutralise,
nullify, negate, emasculate, castrate, wash out
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Something ----s somebody
- Something ----s something
2. become weaker (Freq. 2)
- The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days
• Ant:
strengthen
• Derivationally related forms:
weakening
• Hypernyms:
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
• Hyponyms:
attenuate, melt, disappear, evaporate, die down,
collapse, fade, subside, lessen, blur, dim,
slur, pine away, waste, languish, dull, pall,
loosen, relax, loose, slacken, slow, slow down,
slow up, slack, wilt
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- Somebody ----s
3. destroy property or hinder normal operations (Freq. 1)
- The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war
• Syn:
sabotage, undermine, countermine, counteract, subvert
• Derivationally related forms:
sabotage (for: sabotage)
• Hypernyms:
disobey
• Hyponyms:
derail
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
4. reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of (Freq. 1)
- de-escalate a crisis
• Syn:
de-escalate, step down
• Ant:
escalate (for: de-escalate)
• Derivationally related forms:
step-down (for: step down), weakener, de-escalation (for: de-escalate)
• Hypernyms:
decrease, lessen, minify
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
5. lessen in force or effect
- soften a shock
- break a fall
• Syn:
dampen, damp, soften, break
• Derivationally related forms:
weakener, damper (for: damp)
• Hypernyms:
deaden, blunt
• Hyponyms:
deafen, dampen, deaden, damp
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
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