enervating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enervating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is draining or exhausting, often in a mental or emotional sense. Example: "The long meeting was enervating, leaving everyone feeling fatigued and unproductive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is certainly true of America today as it struggles to cope with economic stagnation, enervating foreign wars and waning self-confidence.

The Economist

After a certain point, the pursuit of more wealth may be futile and morally enervating, especially if it burdens other people and future generations.

The Economist

Perhaps if we had no positional impulse, we'd find luxurious stretches of leisure time less intolerably enervating.

The Economist

In other words, America must expect to fight protracted, enervating counter-insurgency wars that offer no clear-cut victories and risk the prospect of humiliation.A new manual on counter-insurgency co-authored by the man now in charge of the war in Iraq, General David Petraeus, overturns the notion that America doesn't "do nation-building".

The Economist

Today it envelops me like a silken web, enervating and soft, and sets me apart from everybody else.Yet the ennui that marked this second period had less to do with nostalgia than nausea.

The Economist

Mr Cameron, who is trying to reshape the British state as well as eliminate its structural fiscal deficit by 2015, cannot afford such enervating distractions.The other difference, however, is that Mr Cameron has never been quite as popular or as saintly-seeming as Mr Blair was before the Ecclestone scandal.

The Economist

Many people are now refusing to drive to out-of-town, self-service supermarkets, choosing instead to have their shopping delivered.But he is right about the enervating cumulative effect of all the instances where personal service has been replaced with self-service.

The Economist

Russia needs to learn that in spite of their own enervating foreign wars and economic worries the members of the Western alliance can still unite in front of a challenge.

The Economist

And now his perceived failure to get a grip on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is hurting him; some critics call it his Hurricane Katrina; others recall Jimmy Carter's long, enervating hostage crisis in Iran.

The Economist

Yet pessimism need not be enervating.

The Economist

Spells of enervating weather occasionally prevail in May and October, during which the temperature shoots up to 105 °F (41 °C).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enervating" to describe situations or conditions that gradually weaken or deplete energy, rather than sudden, acute events. For instance, "an enervating political campaign" is more fitting than "an enervating surprise party".

Common error

Avoid confusing "enervating", which means weakening or draining, with "energizing", which means invigorating or giving energy. They have opposite meanings.

Linguistic Context

The word "enervating" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes weakness or fatigue. This is supported by examples in Ludwig, where "enervating" modifies nouns like "wars", "distractions", "slowness", and "conditions". Ludwig AI confirms its adjectival role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "enervating" is an adjective used to describe something that causes a gradual depletion of energy or vitality. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its frequent use in news and media, as well as encyclopedic contexts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct, though it should not be confused with "energizing". For alternative phrasing, consider using "draining", "exhausting", or "debilitating", depending on the desired nuance. When using "enervating", remember that it implies a gradual process of weakening, rather than a sudden event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draining

Focuses more on the depletion aspect; emphasizes loss of resources or energy.

exhausting

Highlights the feeling of extreme tiredness resulting from an activity or situation.

debilitating

Suggests a more severe weakening, often implying a long-term or chronic effect.

tiring

A more general term for causing fatigue; less intense than "enervating".

wearying

Emphasizes the mental or emotional fatigue, as opposed to physical exhaustion.

fatiguing

Similar to "tiring" but slightly more formal.

sapping

Focuses on the gradual depletion of energy or vitality.

weakening

A broader term, implying a reduction in strength or effectiveness.

lethargic

Describes the state of being without energy, rather than the cause of it.

depleting

Highlights the reduction of resources, often used in a financial or environmental context.

FAQs

How can I use "enervating" in a sentence?

Use "enervating" to describe something that causes a feeling of being drained of energy or vitality. For example, "The constant noise was incredibly enervating".

What words can I use instead of "enervating"?

Alternatives to "enervating" include "draining", "exhausting", or "debilitating", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "enervating me"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say something is "enervating me". It means that something is causing you to feel drained of energy. For example, "The heat is enervating me".

What's the difference between "enervating" and "exhausting"?

"Enervating" implies a gradual depletion of energy, whereas "exhausting" suggests a more immediate and complete loss of energy. Something "enervating" slowly drains you; something "exhausting" leaves you completely spent.