weakened

USAGE SUMMARY

'weakened' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has become less powerful or less effective. For example: "The recent drought has weakened the local crop yield."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, in practice, it is hard to feel that my decision-making powers have been weakened because when I got my driver's license enrolling in organ donation was the default option.

The New York Times

Above all, Hungary's vote shows that the extremist, outright racist right is not weakened, but in fact emboldened by such an approach.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ruling National Front coalition has been weakened by dissent against Abdullah, who has seen his authority erode rapidly since the March vote.

The Guardian

But the narrow nature of Mr Trimble's victory today has undoubtedly left him weakened and will give him little room for manoeuvre in any future discussions with Sinn Fein.

The Guardian

As the British empire was gradually dissolved after the second world war and its industrial base attacked by younger, nimbler economies, the cohesion of the British state weakened.

The Guardian

United States The pound may have weakened against the dollar, but living costs in a US resort this winter remain lower than in a eurozone one.

The Guardian - Travel

The dispute's bitter outcome left the National Union of Mineworkers and the the wider trade union movement weakened and divided.

The Guardian

"All of these [secular opposition] parties were tremendously weakened by 30 years of Mubarak's regime and 60 years of single-party rule," said Dawoud, who was stabbed by Morsi supporters for calling for his overthrow, and condemned by other secular politicians for denouncing the later crackdown on Islamists.

The Guardian

Today, almost all of those markers of identity are gone or weakened.

The Guardian

He listed the potentially harmful side effects from sharp movements in currencies, commodities and interest rates that could push already weakened countries to the brink of collapse.

The Guardian - Money

Senator Marco Rubio (Florida): Rubio was a relatively minor player in the shutdown theater, but he stands to benefit enormously from it as far as Tea Party support goes, as it has weakened the chances that the immigration debate will return to front-and-center.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like "authority" or "influence", use "weakened" to indicate a decline in their impact or effectiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "weakened" to describe the state of a physical object unless there's a loss of structural integrity. For instance, instead of saying "the weakened chair", consider "the broken chair" or "the damaged chair" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The term "weakened" primarily functions as a past participle adjective. It describes a noun that has undergone a process of becoming less strong or effective. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in sentences like "His weakened immune system couldn't cope with the infection."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "weakened" functions as a past participle adjective, primarily used to describe something that has become less strong or effective. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register. When writing, be mindful of using "weakened" in relation to physical objects, as it is most appropriate when referring to structural integrity, according to its analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced in strength

A straightforward description of decreased power or force.

diminished in power

Specifically refers to a reduction in authority or control.

made vulnerable

Focuses on the resulting susceptibility to harm or attack.

impaired

Focuses on functional damage or reduction in capability.

became undermined

Highlights a gradual weakening, often by insidious means.

compromised

Suggests an impairment of function or integrity.

eroded

Suggests a slow, destructive weakening process.

became frail

Emphasizes a loss of physical strength or robustness.

debilitated

Indicates a significant loss of strength or energy.

attenuated

Implies a reduction in intensity or effect, often gradual.

FAQs

How can I use "weakened" in a sentence?

"Weakened" can be used to describe something that has become less strong or effective, such as "His "weakened immune system" couldn't fight off the infection" or "The storm "weakened the foundations" of the building".

What are some synonyms for "weakened"?

Synonyms for "weakened" include "diminished", "impaired", "undermined", and "reduced". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the economy has weakened"?

Yes, it is correct. Saying "the economy has weakened" means that the economy has become less robust or stable. It's a common and grammatically sound usage.

What's the difference between "weakened" and "weaker"?

"Weakened" is the past participle of the verb "weaken" and often functions as an adjective, describing something that has been made less strong. "Weaker" is the comparative form of the adjective "weak", indicating a lower degree of strength compared to something else.