1 debilitate | Definition of debilitate
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

debilitate

verb
de·​bil·​i·​tate | \ di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio) , dē-\
debilitated; debilitating

Definition of debilitate

transitive verb

: to impair the strength of : enfeeble sailors debilitated by scurvy an economy debilitated by years of civil war
Other Words from debilitate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about debilitate

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from debilitate

debilitation \ di-​ˌbi-​lə-​ˈtā-​shən How to pronounce debilitation (audio) , dē-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for debilitate

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, cripple, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor. weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power. a disease that weakens the body's defenses enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness. enfeebled by starvation debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality. the debilitating effects of surgery undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously. a poor diet undermines your health drugs had sapped his ability to think cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element. crippled by arthritis disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability. disabled by an injury sustained at work

Examples of debilitate in a Sentence

The virus debilitates the body's immune system. the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears

Recent Examples on the Web

 Event’ Officials are said to be monitoring the beaches on Friday to ensure the whales — one or two of which may be debilitated by the previous stranding — don’t strand themselves again. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "5 Whales Die After Stranding Themselves on Hawaii Beach with 5 Other Whales," 30 Aug. 2019 Even if they were released, would the scars of imprisonment debilitate them? — Missy Ryan, Washington Post, "‘No one just goes hiking in Afghanistan’: American woman gave birth as a Taliban hostage. Now she seeks to end her mystery.," 23 Aug. 2019 For the millions of Americans who suffer from PTSD, though, the memories of the event have debilitated them. — Jordan Wilkerson, Dallas News, "UTD lab's marketing challenge: Recruit veterans for PTSD study," 15 Aug. 2019 This experiment may help researchers figure out how mutations in multiple genes lead to debilitating human illnesses. — Quanta Magazine, "The Cell’s Backup Genetic Instructions," 28 Oct. 2016 Get our daily newsletter Tajikistan is the poorest of the Central Asian states, lacking the natural resources of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and has been further debilitated by civil war. — The Economist, "But their new partnership makes China a lot more equal than Russia," 25 July 2019 Damage to either the bones or the ligament can be debilitating to a speed-dependent athlete such as Brown. — Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, "Five Things We Might Learn from 2019 Ravens training camp," 24 July 2019 Britney is dealing with debilitating emotional issues that need to be treated with medications. — Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, "Britney Spears Breaks Down Her Summer Exercise Routine: 'The Key to My Workout Is Repetition'," 17 June 2019 How can such a magnificent club have been struck down with this disease, an illness which is slowly debilitating them? — SI.com, "Why Newcastle United Have No Hope of Premier League Survival Next Season," 8 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'debilitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of debilitate

1533, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for debilitate

Latin debilitatus, past participle of debilitare to weaken, from debilis weak

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for debilitate

debilitate

verb
How to pronounce debilitate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of debilitate

formal + technical : to make (someone or something) weak : to reduce the strength of (someone or something)

See the full definition for debilitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

debilitate

verb
de·​bil·​i·​tate | \ di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio) \
debilitated; debilitating

Kids Definition of debilitate

: to make feeble : weaken a debilitating disease

debilitate

transitive verb
de·​bil·​i·​tate | \ di-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce debilitate (audio) \
debilitated; debilitating

Medical Definition of debilitate

: to impair the strength of a body debilitated by disease

Other Words from debilitate

debilitation \ -​ˌbil-​ə-​ˈtā-​shən How to pronounce debilitation (audio) \ noun

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!