enervate
/ˈenəveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈenərveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈnər-vət/ (ame, mw)
enervate — verb
- enervatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- enervateshe / she / it
- enervatedpast simple
- enervating-ing form
1. to gradually drain someone's physical or mental strength over time, leaving them
to gradually drain someone's physical or mental strength over time, leaving them with very little energy to continue what they are doing
The long illness enervated Rohan, leaving him too weak to climb the stairs.
passive: be enervated by [illness]
Evelyn felt completely enervated by the constant noise and lack of sleep in the city.
be enervated by + noun phrase
Living through a war would enervate even the strongest human spirit.
The tropical heat enervated the hikers, and they stopped to rest under a tree.
Months of caring for his elderly mother enervated Leo, both physically and emotionally.
- exhaust
more common and less formal; suggests using up all of something
- debilitate
similar register; emphasizes physical impairment rather than energy loss
- sap
more informal; suggests a gradual, unnoticed draining
- drain
more general and frequent; can be physical or abstract
- energize
the direct opposite in spelling and meaning
- invigorate
suggests giving fresh energy and vitality
文法句型
enervate + object
be enervated by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be/get enervated by). The active subject is typically an impersonal force such as heat, illness, grief, or prolonged effort. Do not confuse with 'energize' — the two words have opposite meanings despite the similar spelling.
常見錯誤
enervate — adjective
- enervatepositive
- more enervatecomparative
- most enervatesuperlative
1. in a weakened condition affecting the body, mind, or willpower, so that a person
in a weakened condition affecting the body, mind, or willpower, so that a person has very little energy or drive
After the long ceremony, the audience looked enervate and ready to leave the hall.
predicative use after 'looked'
The enervate patient could barely lift her hand to wave goodbye to her family.
attributive: enervate + patient
Selim felt enervate after working double shifts for two weeks without a break.
The team's enervate performance showed how little energy they had left after the long season.
用法筆記
The bare adjective form 'enervate' is less common in modern English than the past participle 'enervated.' When used attributively (before a noun), it appears mostly in formal, literary, or academic writing.