1. The process of becoming weaker
   "The weakening of the immune system made the patient more susceptible to infections"
    
2. The act of reducing the strength of something
   "The weakening of the storm brought relief to coastal residents"

1. Causing debilitation
   "The weakening effects of the illness left him bedridden for weeks";
   - debilitative, enervating, enfeebling
    
2. Moderating by making pain or sorrow weaker
   "The weakening effect of the painkiller brought relief"; "Time had a weakening effect on his grief"

1. Lessen the strength of
   "The fever weakened his body"
    
2. Become weaker
   "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days"
    
3. Lessen in force or effect
   "weaken a shock";
   - dampen, damp, soften, break
    
4. Act to reduce, damage or destroy the effectiveness, power or stability of something
   "The Resistance weakened railway operations during the war";
   - sabotage, undermine, countermine, counteract, subvert

Derived forms: weakenings

See also: debilitating, moderating

Type of: alter, blunt, change, come down, deaden, decrease, dent, diminish, diminution, disobey, fall, go down, lessen, modify, reduction, shift, sink, step-down, transformation, transmutation

Antonym: fortify, strengthen, strengthening

Encyclopedia: Weakening