weaken the capability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weaken the capability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reduction of strength or effectiveness of a particular ability or resource. Example: "The new policy may inadvertently weaken the capability of our team to respond quickly to emergencies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Their deaths will weaken the capabilities of the Abu Sayyaf".

The New York Times

The goal of Israel's strategy of assassinating leaders is to weaken the capabilities of their organisations without inspiring further attacks.

The Economist

In the current operations that we're engaged in, special forces are absolutely critical, they're extremely important and if this measure looks like weakening the capability of the SAS then it should be resisted".

Independent

It is found that the solvation weakens the capability of both electron-accepting power of cations and electron-donating power of anions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The result has been an exodus of manufacturing from America, which has weakened the capabilities that domestic firms need to keep inventing high-quality, cost-competitive products.

Harvard Business Review

To that end, initial military action should be carefully directed at the reasonable objectives Mr. Bush proclaimed yesterday -- to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base and to weaken the military capability of that country's ruling Taliban movement, which allows Osama bin Laden and his network to operate there.

The New York Times

On the other hand, γ simply serves to weaken the competition capability of P1-packets so that they will not jeopardise I-packets when the congestion level becomes extremely heavy.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

According to the above analysis, there is a voltage phase angle jump when a grid fault occurs or the grid fault is cleared in the condition of large scale of DFIGs connected to a weak grid, which weaken the control capability of DFIGs, and may cause FRT failure of DFIGs.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

As shown in Fig.  2B, the gap width of control group narrowed more obviously than that of ellagic acid-treated group from 0 to 24 h, reflecting that ellagic acid could time dependently weaken the migration capability of endothelial cells.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

The company also asserted that it had not intended to weaken the cryptographic capabilities of its software products.

The Washington Post

Cracks weaken the waterproofing capabilities and expose the microstructure to moisture, bromine, chloride and sulphates (Köksal et al. 2008; Song et al. 2005; Sivakumar and Santhanam 2007; Toutanji 1999).

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "weaken the capability", ensure you specify what capability is being weakened and the cause of the weakening. This adds clarity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "the capability was weakened". Opt for active constructions to make your writing more direct and impactful, for example "the budget cuts weaken the capability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weaken the capability" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe an action that reduces the effectiveness or strength of a particular ability or resource. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples where the phrase is used to describe reducing military strength or control capabilities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "weaken the capability" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, used to describe the reduction of strength or effectiveness of a particular ability or resource. Ludwig AI confirms this with several examples from reliable sources. While its occurrence is not extremely common, it is prevalent in contexts related to news, science, and general knowledge. When employing this phrase, it's essential to clarify what specific capability is being undermined and the factors contributing to its weakening. A good usage consists in avoiding phrasing like "the capability was weakened". Opt for active constructions to make your writing more direct and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undermine the capacity

This alternative emphasizes a gradual or subtle weakening of the inherent ability.

reduce the effectiveness

This focuses on lowering how well something performs its intended function.

impair the potential

This suggests damage or diminishment to the future ability to perform.

diminish the power

This emphasizes a reduction in strength or authority.

lessen the strength

This focuses on a reduction in physical or metaphorical force.

erode the ability

Implies a gradual wearing away of the capacity over time.

degrade the performance

This highlights the decline in how well something operates.

compromise the competence

This suggests the integrity or effectiveness is put at risk.

attenuate the force

To reduce the intensity or strength.

cripple the effectiveness

This alternative suggests causing significant damage to the ability.

FAQs

How can I use "weaken the capability" in a sentence?

You can use "weaken the capability" to describe the reduction of effectiveness or power. For example, "Budget cuts will "weaken the capability" of the department to respond to emergencies".

What are some alternatives to "weaken the capability"?

Alternatives include "undermine the capacity", "reduce the effectiveness", or "impair the potential" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "weaken the capability" or "weaken capabilities"?

The choice depends on context. "Weaken the capability" refers to a specific, defined ability. "Weaken capabilities" refers more broadly to a range of abilities. For example, "The strategy aims to "weaken the capability" to launch missiles" vs. "The layoffs "weaken capabilities" across the organization".

What does it mean to "weaken the capability" of something?

To "weaken the capability" means to diminish its power, effectiveness, or ability to perform a specific function. It suggests a reduction in strength or competence.