debilitate
C1/C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
To make someone or something very weak and feeble.
To seriously impair the strength, capacity, or effectiveness of a person, organization, system, or object.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a gradual or long-term weakening process. Can be used both literally (physical health) and figuratively (economy, morale).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage patterns between UK and US English.
Connotations
Medical, military, and strategic contexts are common. Strongly negative.
Frequency
More common in written, formal, and academic contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[transitive] debilitate + [object][passive] be debilitated by + [cause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'debilitate']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A prolonged strike could debilitate the company's cash reserves.
Academic
Parasitic infections often debilitate the host organism, reducing its fitness.
Everyday
That flu really debilitated me; I was in bed for a week.
Technical
The new cyber-weapon is designed to debilitate critical infrastructure networks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tropical disease can debilitate entire populations.
- The scandal threatened to debilitate the government.
American English
- The injury could debilitate the star player for the season.
- High taxes debilitate small business growth.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She was left in a debilitated state after the surgery.
- The debilitated industry required government aid.
American English
- He felt debilitated by the constant stress.
- The team was debilitated by key absences.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man was very sick and weak. (Concept, not word used.)
- A serious illness can make you very weak for a long time. (Concept paraphrased.)
- The virus debilitates its victims, leaving them unable to work or care for themselves.
- Years of underinvestment have debilitated the nation's public transport infrastructure, leading to chronic inefficiency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DE-BILI-TATE: Think 'de-' (removing) + 'bility' (ability). To remove someone's ability.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAKNESS IS A LACK OF STRUCTURE / STRENGTH IS INTEGRITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дебилизировать' (to make stupid/deluded). 'Debilitate' is about strength, not intelligence.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (*a debilitate person). The adjective is 'debilitated'.
- Confusing with 'deteriorate' (general worsening vs. specific weakening).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is CLOSEST in meaning to 'debilitate'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's commonly used figuratively for systems, economies, organisations, and even arguments (e.g., 'a debilitated economy').
'Debilitate' is stronger and more formal. It implies a serious, often crippling, reduction of strength or capacity, whereas 'weaken' is general and neutral.
In everyday language, the adjective/past participle form 'debilitated' is more frequently encountered than the base verb, often in medical or descriptive contexts.
Common causes include disease, injury, malnutrition, prolonged stress, lack of resources, or sustained attack.
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