Debilitate
harddih-BIL-ih-tayt
verb
Definition
To make weak or feeble; to impair the strength of
Examples
“The prolonged illness debilitated him considerably.”
“Sanctions were designed to debilitate the enemy's economy.”
Categories
GRE Tip
Debilitate is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "weaken" or "enervate" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "strengthen".
Related GRE Words
devitalize
To deprive of strength, vitality, or energy
enervate
To cause someone to feel drained of energy; to weaken
enfeeble
To make weak or feeble
sap
(verb) To gradually weaken or destroy; to drain of energy
attenuate
To reduce the force, effect, or value of; to weaken
undermine
To weaken or damage something, especially gradually or insidiously
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