weakening
/ˈwiː.kən/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈikənɪŋ] /ˈwiː.kən/ (ame, ipa)
weakening — verb
- weakeningpresent simple I / you / we / they
- weakenings3rd person singular
- weakeninging-ing form
- weakeningedpast simple
1. to become less powerful or less physically strong, or to make something or someo
to become less powerful or less physically strong, or to make something or someone lose power or strength — for example, when a storm weakens after hitting the coast, or when a long illness weakens a person's body.
After three days at sea, the storm began to weaken.
intransitive: [natural force] weakens
The infection weakened Quinn so badly that she had to stay in hospital for a week.
transitive: [illness] weakens [person]
Aarav's confidence weakened after he failed the driving test twice.
Repeated budget cuts have weakened the hospital's ability to help patients.
Years of rain and sun had weakened the wooden fence until it finally broke.
- undermine
stronger and more gradual than weaken; often suggests deliberate damage to confidence, authority, or an institution
- erode
suggests a slow, gradual wearing away, often used with trust, confidence, or physical surfaces
- diminish
more formal; focuses on a reduction in size, importance, or intensity rather than strength
- sap
suggests draining energy or strength from the inside, like a resource being used up
- strengthen
the direct opposite; to make or become stronger
- reinforce
to add extra strength or support, especially to something physical or structural
文法句型
something weakens
someone/something weakens someone/something
someone/something is weakened
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (e.g., 'was weakened by…'). The intransitive form is common when describing natural forces, health, or abstract qualities like determination.