Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Thesaurus

debilitate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of DEBILITATE

to diminish the physical strength of <the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears>

Synonyms debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste

Related Words cripple, disable, hamstring, incapacitate; deplete, depress, exhaust, impoverish, unman, wash out; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, invalid, lay up; break down, grind (down), wear down, wear out; paralyze

Near Antonyms energize, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, vitalize; harden, season, toughen

Antonyms beef (up), fortify, strengthen

Learn More About

Dictionary: Definition of "debilitate"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "debilitate"

Medical Dictionary: Definition of "debilitate"

Nglish: Translation of "debilitate" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "debilitate" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up debilitate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated