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enervate

adjective
ener·​vate | \ i-ˈnər-vət How to pronounce enervate (audio) \

Definition of enervate

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor : enervated

enervate

verb
en·​er·​vate | \ ˈe-nər-ˌvāt How to pronounce enervate (audio) \
enervated; enervating

Definition of enervate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of
2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of
Other Words from enervate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about enervate

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Other Words from enervate

Verb

enervatingly \ ˈe-​nər-​ˌvā-​tiŋ-​lē How to pronounce enervatingly (audio) \ adverb
enervation \ ˌe-​nər-​ˈvā-​shən How to pronounce enervation (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for enervate

Verb

unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action. unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act. unnerved by the near collision enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort. a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit. a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential. an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Did You Know?

Verb

Enervate is a word that some people use without really knowing what it means. They seem to believe that because "enervate" looks a little bit like "energize" and "invigorate" it must share their meaning - but it is actually their antonym. "Enervate" comes from the Latin word enervare, which was formed from the prefix e-, meaning "out of," and "-nervare" (from nervus, meaning "sinew or nerve"). So, etymologically at least, someone who is enervated is "out of nerve."

Examples of enervate in a Sentence

Verb

 a lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Then again, enervating her supporters has been Madonna’s M.O. in recent years. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "The Paradox of Madonna’s Gun-Control Music Video," 3 July 2019 But the art which resists the slow sap of a chronic disease—which repairs frames enervated by lust, swollen by gluttony, or inflamed by wine . . — Chris Pope, WSJ, "‘More Than Medicine’ Review: An Ounce of Prevention," 17 Mar. 2019 Such behavior is particularly enervating when the West aims to bring new countries into permanent and universal—that is, Western-style—guarantees of security and systems of relations. — I. William Zartman, WSJ, "Kim Jong Un and the Art of the Asian Deal," 24 June 2018 What made West’s increasingly enervated stream of tweets so fascinating was their commitment to a principle of absolute freedom. — Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, "Post Malone’s White-Rapper Blues," 7 May 2018 Soderbergh's enervated editing (under his usual alias, Mary Ann Bernard) seldom locates a pulse in the feeble material, let alone one that keeps racing. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Unsane': Film Review | Berlin 2018," 21 Feb. 2018 Spending lots of time on your back, May has found, is strangely enervating -- and distracting. — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, "Playhouse Square launches national tour of Tony-winner 'Hello Dolly!' starring Betty Buckley," 12 Feb. 2018 Frum has the pamphleteer’s flair for the scathing epithet, which can be energizing or enervating, depending on your tolerance for hyperbole. — Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, "Will Democracy Survive President Trump? Two New Books Aren’t So Sure," 10 Jan. 2018 Seemingly immune to political norms, his brassy courting of scandal is frustrating attempts to effectively govern, enervating progress on health care and tax reform. — Isobel Thompson, The Hive, "Fear and Loathing on Capitol Hill as Talk Turns to Impeachment," 17 May 2017

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

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First Known Use of enervate

Adjective

1603, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for enervate

Verb

Latin enervatus, past participle of enervare, from e- + nervus sinew — more at nerve

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More Definitions for enervate

enervate

verb
How to pronounce enervate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of enervate

formal : to make (someone or something) very weak or tired

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

enervate

transitive verb
en·​er·​vate | \ ˈen-ər-ˌvāt How to pronounce enervate (audio) \
enervated; enervating

Medical Definition of enervate

1 obsolete : to cut the nerves or tendons of

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