Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make weak or feeble; to deprive of strength: "enfeeble" means to cause someone or something to become physically weak, lacking in vigor, or less powerful. It implies a gradual or significant reduction in strength, vitality, or effectiveness.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The prolonged illness enfeebled his body, making even simple tasks difficult.
  • Years of economic mismanagement have enfeebled the nation's industrial capacity.
  • The intense heat enfeebled the hikers, forcing them to stop and rest.

Advanced Usage

• "to enfeeble an argument": to weaken the logical force or persuasiveness of a point of view.
  • The lack of solid evidence enfeebled the prosecutor's case.
• "enfeebled by age": a common collocation describing the natural weakening associated with growing old.
  • Though his mind was sharp, he was enfeebled by age and required constant care.

Variants and Related Words

• Enfeebling (adj): causing weakness.
  • The enfeebling disease spread quickly through the population.
• Enfeeblement (n): the state or process of being made weak.
  • The general's enfeeblement of the enemy's defenses was a key strategic move.

Synonyms

• Weaken: to make or become less strong.
• Debilitate: to make someone weak and infirm.
• Sap: to gradually weaken or drain of energy or strength.
• Enervate: to cause someone to feel drained of energy or vitality.

Antonyms

• Strengthen: to make or become stronger.
• Fortify: to strengthen or reinforce.
• Invigorate: to give strength or energy to.

Related Phrases and Usage Notes

• "enfeeble the will": to weaken someone's determination or resolve.
  • The constant propaganda was designed to enfeeble the will of the resistance.
• The verb is typically used in more formal or literary contexts to describe a serious weakening. It is often used in the passive voice (e.g., "was enfeebled").

Verb

1. make weak
   • Life in the camp drained him