weaken

verb

1. （使）虚弱，衰弱；减弱；削弱
   to make sb/sth less strong or powerful; to become less strong or powerful
   1. The team has been weakened by injury.
      这个队因伤实力减弱。
   2. The new evidence weakens the case against her.
      新的证据削弱了诉她的案由。
   3. His authority is steadily weakening.
      他的权威日趋减弱。
2. （使）虚弱，衰弱
   to make sb less physically strong; to become less physically strong
   1. The explosion had weakened the building's foundations.
      爆炸松动了这座楼房的地基。
   2. She felt her legs weaken.
      她觉得两腿无力。
3. 使（肯定程度）减弱；动摇；犹豫
   to become or make sb become less determined or certain about sth
   1. Nothing could weaken his resolve to continue.
      什么也不能削弱他继续下去的决心。
   2. You must not agree to do it. Don't weaken.
      你们一定不能同意做这件事。别心软。

1. V-ERG 削弱;减弱
   If you weaken something or if it weakens, it becomes less strong or less powerful.
   1. The recession has weakened so many firms that many can no longer survive...
      经济衰退使许多公司实力大损，不少难以为继。
   2. The Prime Minister's opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened...
      首相的反对者认为她的权威已经受到致命削弱。
   3. Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
      家庭结构在动摇，进而分崩离析。
2. V-ERG (使)(决心)动摇
   If your resolve weakens or if something weakens it, you become less determined or less certain about taking a particular course of action that you had previously decided to take.
   1. I looked at the list and felt my resolve weakening...
      我看着名单，觉得自己的决心正在动摇。
   2. Jennie weakened, and finally relented...
      詹妮的态度有所缓和，最终软了下来。
   3. The verdict hasn't weakened his resolve to fight the charges against him.
      判决没有动摇他洗清对自己的指控的决心。
3. VERB 使虚弱;使无力
   If something weakens you, it causes you to lose some of your physical strength.
   1. Malnutrition obviously weakens the patient.
      营养不良明显导致病人身体虚弱。
4. VERB 使松动;使损坏
   If something weakens an object, it does something to it which causes it to become less firm and more likely to break.
   1. A bomb blast had weakened an area of brick on the back wall...
      一颗炸弹爆炸使后墙的一片砖发生了松动。
   2. Never dry underwear over direct heat; it will weaken the fabric.
      不要直接加热烘干内衣，那样会损坏布料。

1. There was one caveat: he was not to enter into a merger or otherwise weaken the Roche family's control of the firm.
   有一点需要预先声明：他不得参与合并，或以其他方式削弱罗奇家族对该公司的控制。
2. He suspected elements within the South African government were conniving at the disturbances to try to weaken the ANC
   他怀疑南非政府内有一帮人纵容这些骚乱的发生，企图削弱非国大。
3. The Bundesbank's seemingly impregnable position has begun to weaken.
   德意志联邦银行看似不可撼动的地位开始削弱了。
4. The recession has weakened so many firms that many can no longer survive
   经济衰退使许多公司实力大损，不少难以为继。
5. The Prime Minister's opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened
   首相的反对者认为她的权威已经受到致命削弱。
6. Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
   家庭结构在动摇，进而分崩离析。
7. I looked at the list and felt my resolve weakening
   我看着名单，觉得自己的决心正在动摇。
8. Jennie weakened, and finally relented
   詹妮的态度有所缓和，最终软了下来。
9. The verdict hasn't weakened his resolve to fight the charges against him.
   判决没有动摇他洗清对自己的指控的决心。
10. Malnutrition obviously weakens the patient.
    营养不良明显导致病人身体虚弱。
11. A bomb blast had weakened an area of brick on the back wall
    一颗炸弹爆炸使后墙的一片砖发生了松动。
12. Never dry underwear over direct heat; it will weaken the fabric.
    不要直接加热烘干内衣，那样会损坏布料。
13. None of these setbacks could weaken her resolve to become a doctor.
    这些挫折一点也动摇不了她要当医生的决心。
14. Punishment and penalty fail to weaken the strong belief.
    惩罚和罚款都不能削弱他们的坚强信念。
15. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken.
    尽管付出了代价，美国的承诺不会变弱。
16. I can weaken his bodythatway.
    那样我就可以削弱他的身体。
17. The legitimacy of the market will weaken.
    市场的正当性将被削弱。
18. Difficult experiences can weaken and destroy, or we can use them to bring about beautiful inner qualities.
    困难的经验，可以削弱和破坏我们，我们也可以利用他们带来美丽的内在素质。
19. Come so, of new product on line and operation have weaken certainly.
    这样一来，新产品的上线和运营就有一定的削弱。
20. Another defeat in parliament would seriously weaken the president's ability to govern.
    在议会中的再次失败会严重削弱总统的统治能力。
21. However the value was greatly weaken in practice in China.
    实践中我国国家赔偿制度的价值被大大地弱化了。
22. And, like any competitive advantage, switching costs can strengthen or weaken with time.
    和其它竞争优势一样，转换成本也会随着时间增强或者减弱。
23. Trade sanctions will weaken the emerging market outlook and will reduce demand for emerging market assets.
    贸易制裁将削弱新兴市场的前景，降低对新兴市场资产的需求。
24. This does not weaken but improves and strengthens the leadership of the Party.
    这不是削弱党的领导，而是更好地改善党的领导，加强党的领导。
25. By destroying the incentives to work, welfare states weaken growth, they say.
    他们认为，福利制度通过打破对工作的激励弱化了经济增长。
26. Such economic mobility may weaken their caste identity, as could better education.
    经济水平的提高也许使他们淡化了种姓身份，受到了更好的教育。
27. Splits and wars among the warlords weaken the power of the White regime.
    军阀间的分裂和战争，削弱了白色政权的统治势力。
28. And we weaken our position permanently, you know that.
    你知道这会永久性的削弱我们的地位。
29. Highly competitively sectors weaken the price effect of import competition on firms, while strengthen the cost effect.
    高竞争性行业削弱了进口贸易竞争对国内行业企业的价格效应，而强化了其成本效应。
30. The current creates magnetic field that weaken and distort the signal.
    电流会产生磁场，从而使信号减弱和失真。

  undermine sap weaken【导航词义：逐渐削弱】

  undermine v. 逐渐削弱，损害

〔辨析〕尤指使信心、权威等变弱或失去效力。

  sap v. 削弱，逐渐破坏

〔辨析〕尤指逐渐削弱某人的力量、信心、意志等。

  weaken v. 削弱；使虚弱；动摇

〔辨析〕指使某人或某物变得不重要或不强大，或使人身体衰弱，也可指动摇某人的决心。

verb

1. become weaker
   1. The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days

2. lessen the strength of
   1. The fever weakened his body

3. reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
   1. de-escalate a crisis

   Synonym:    de-escalatestep down

4. lessen in force or effect
   1. soften a shock
   2. break a fall

   Synonym:    dampendampsoftenbreak

5. destroy property or hinder normal operations
   1. The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war

   Synonym:    sabotageunderminecounterminecounteractsubvert