WEAKENING
Dictionary entry overview: What does weakening mean?
• WEAKENING (noun)
The noun WEAKENING has 2 senses:
1. becoming weaker
2. the act of reducing the strength of something
Familiarity information: WEAKENING used as a noun is rare.
• WEAKENING (adjective)
The adjective WEAKENING has 2 senses:
1. causing debilitation
2. moderating by making pain or sorrow weaker
Familiarity information: WEAKENING used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• WEAKENING (noun)
Meaning:
Becoming weaker
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Hypernyms ("weakening" is a kind of...):
shift; transformation; transmutation (a qualitative change)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "weakening"):
debilitation; enervation; enfeeblement; exhaustion (serious weakening and loss of energy)
atrophy; withering (any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use))
attenuation; fading (weakening in force or intensity)
downfall; fall (a sudden decline in strength or number or importance)
loosening; relaxation; slackening (an occurrence of control or strength weakening)
Antonym:
strengthening (becoming stronger)
Meaning:
The act of reducing the strength of something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("weakening" is a kind of...):
decrease; diminution; reduction; step-down (the act of decreasing or reducing something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "weakening"):
wilt; wilting (causing to become limp or drooping)
dilution (weakening (reducing the concentration) by the addition of water or a thinner)
etiolation (the act of weakening by stunting the growth or development of something)
Antonym:
strengthening (the act of increasing the strength of something)
• WEAKENING (adjective)
Meaning:
Causing debilitation
Synonyms:
debilitative; enervating; enfeebling; weakening
Similar:
debilitating (impairing the strength and vitality)
Meaning:
Moderating by making pain or sorrow weaker
Similar:
moderating (lessening in intensity or strength)
