weaken
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
To make or become less strong, effective, powerful, or certain.
To reduce the physical strength, structural integrity, or persuasive power of something; to undermine or dilute.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Commonly used in both transitive ('The news weakened his resolve') and intransitive ('His resolve weakened') constructions. It implies a gradual process rather than an instantaneous change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both varieties use it with equal frequency.
Connotations
Similar neutral-to-negative connotations in both varieties, suggesting undesirable reduction.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP weakenNP weaken NPNP weaken from NPNP weaken under NPVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “weaken someone's resolve/hand/position”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new regulations could weaken our competitive advantage in the market.
Academic
The study's methodological flaws significantly weaken its conclusions.
Everyday
Don't add too much water, you'll weaken the flavour of the soup.
Technical
Corrosion has weakened the structural integrity of the bridge's main supports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The constant rain began to weaken the flood defences.
- Her argument weakens considerably when you examine the underlying assumptions.
- He felt his grip weaken as the rope began to fray.
American English
- The scandal has weakened the president's approval ratings.
- The dollar weakened against the euro today.
- Don't weaken your position by admitting fault too early.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Too much sugar can weaken your teeth.
- The wind weakened in the afternoon.
- The illness weakened his body for several weeks.
- Criticism from his allies weakened his political position.
- Adding too many optional features may weaken the core design of the product.
- The government's credibility has been severely weakened by the recent revelations.
- The treaty was deliberately weakened by ambiguous wording to secure broader support.
- Her resolve never weakened, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WEAK' + '-EN' (to make). To WEAKEN is to MAKE something WEAK.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / weakening is eroding, crumbling, or diluting.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'to reduce' (уменьшать) when the meaning is more specific to making *less strong*. 'Ослабить' is the closest equivalent.
- Do not use 'weaken' for temporary fatigue (use 'tire' or 'exhaust').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *The team was weaken by the loss. (Correct: ...was weakened...)
- Incorrect: *It weakens my decision. (Uncommon; 'undermines' is better)
- Overuse in place of more specific verbs like 'dilute', 'sap', or 'erode'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'weaken' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very commonly used for abstract concepts like arguments, positions, resolve, currencies, and relationships.
Yes, e.g., 'His influence weakened over time' or 'The storm finally weakened.'
The primary noun form is 'weakening' (the process). The state or result is 'weakness'.
Yes. 'Debilitate' is stronger and often implies a state of serious incapacity, typically in a medical or physical context. 'Weaken' is more general and gradual.