weaken down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weaken down" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is simply "weaken." Example: "The constant stress began to weaken her resolve."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

U.S. natural gas prices, meanwhile, have continued to weaken, down 20%, quarter-over-quarter, to $6.21 per thousand cubic feet, and should drag on some companies' earnings, especially ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil, Barcelo forecasted.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The polarization field can be weakened down to 23% of the theoretical value when the indium content is 26.5%.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The storm then slowly crossed the Florida peninsula, before entering the Gulf of Mexico the next day near Tampa, Florida, after having weakened down to tropical storm strength.

Wikipedia

can be weakened down to complete cessation.

BioMed Research International

And if it suffers enough, it will eventually weaken and break down, just as it would if you repeatedly overindulged a bottle of tequila or a carton of Haagen-Dazs.

Huffington Post

In the case of osteoporosis, cannabinoids inhibit the production of osteoclasts--cells that break down and weaken bones.

Vice

Ego depletion may turn up the gain on these inputs, or weaken top-down modulation.

Biology and Philosophy

Prey heterogeneity can mediate trophic-level responses to enrichment and weaken top-down limitation of prey communities by facilitating numerical dominance by defended prey.

F1000Research

Predator-mediated increases in the relative abundance of defended prey may also weaken top-down limitation of trophic-level abundance causing an increase in total prey abundance relative to prey community's lacking trait heterogeneity.

F1000Research

The consequence of this for our model is that the linkage could break down over generations, weakening or eliminating the associations between PrP genotype and lamb survival.

Plosone

Cell rigidity was weakened by down regulating expressions of ten genes in the cell wall synthesis pathway using CRISPRi, leading to elastic cells with more spaces for PHB accumulation.

Metabolic Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using simply "weaken" instead of "weaken down" for clarity and conciseness. While "weaken down" appears in some contexts, it's not standard English. For example, use "The storm will weaken" instead of "The storm will weaken down".

Common error

Avoid using "weaken down" as it is often redundant; the word "down" doesn't add significant meaning and can make the sentence less clear. Using just "weaken" is typically more effective and grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weaken down" functions as a phrasal verb, though its usage is non-standard. It aims to express the action of becoming less strong or effective. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "weaken down" might appear in some contexts, particularly in news and media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The consensus, according to Ludwig AI, is that it's more appropriate to use simply "weaken". This provides clarity and conciseness in writing. When aiming for precision and grammatical correctness, especially in formal contexts, opt for "weaken" or alternatives like "diminish" or "reduce".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diminish

Focuses on a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity; less specific than the original phrase.

reduce

Emphasizes the act of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

lessen

Highlights the process of becoming smaller or less significant.

mitigate

Implies reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.

attenuate

Suggests weakening or reducing the force, effect, or value of something, often gradually.

soften

Emphasizes making something less harsh, severe, or forceful.

undermine

Suggests gradually weakening or damaging something, often in a subtle way.

impair

Implies weakening or damaging something, especially a faculty or function.

debilitate

Highlights the process of making someone or something weak and infirm.

erode

Focuses on gradual destruction or diminution, often through natural forces.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "weaken down"?

No, "weaken down" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and more concise term is "weaken".

What does "weaken" mean?

The word "weaken" means to make or become less strong or effective. It suggests a reduction in power, intensity, or quality.

Are there alternatives to "weaken down"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "diminish", "reduce", or simply "weaken".

How can I use "weaken" in a sentence?

You can use "weaken" in a sentence like this: "The economy began to weaken after the financial crisis".