Debilitate
To make someone or something weaker or less able to function; to sap strength or vitality.
verbDebilitate
To make someone or something weaker or less able to function; to sap strength or vitality.
verbImagine This
Imagine a once-active marathon runner who contracts a chronic illness. Each day, their energy drains a little more, and tasks that used to be easy—standing, walking, training—become a struggle.
Sounds Like
dih-BIL-ih-teyt
Looks Like
Rooted in the debil- stem meaning weak; visually related to words like disable and debility.
Remember This
Debility and debilitation are related nouns; the root debil- means weak. The word appears in medical and formal contexts.
Other Forms
Connect With
weaken, enfeeble, enervate, impair, incapacitate
Note
Used with people or things that are weakened by disease, fatigue, or stress. Not interchangeable with 'disable' in every context; debilitate emphasizes gradual weakening rather than a sudden incapacity.