debilitate

transitive-verb
UK: /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪt/
US: /dɪˈbɪl.ə.teɪt/

  1. To make someone or something weak and unable to do things well.

    1. The illness did debilitate him quite badly.
    2. Cancer can quickly debilitate an otherwise healthy person, making daily tasks impossible.

  2. To reduce the strength or energy of, especially to hinder or delay.

    1. This policy will debilitate our economy a bit.
    2. The strike could debilitate the company's performance if it continues much longer.

Synonyms

weaken enfeeble incapacitate impair devitalize disable
debilitate intransitive-verb

  1. To become weak or feeble; to lose strength or energy.

    1. He started to debilitate after the surgery.
    2. The old building will debilitate without necessary and timely maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "debilitate" in English means: To make someone or something weak and unable to do things well., To reduce the strength or energy of, especially to hinder or delay..

The phonetic transcription of "debilitate" is /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪt/ in British English and /dɪˈbɪl.ə.teɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "debilitate": weaken, enfeeble, incapacitate, impair, devitalize, disable.

Example usage of "debilitate": "The illness did debilitate him quite badly.". More examples on the page.