Enervate vs Energize
enervate
to weaken/drain
energize
to invigorate
How to tell them apart
Both start eNER-, so lean on the ending. eNERVate gets on your NERVes and drains you WEAK. eNERGize adds ENERGy and pumps you up. NERV = drained; ENERG = charged.
Test yourself
Fill in the blank: “Only one of these words means to weaken/drain. That word is ______.”
Choose: enervate or energize
Show answer
Answer: enervate
Enervate means to weaken/drain, which matches to weaken/drain. Energize means to invigorate, so it is the wrong choice here.
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