Words / C1

WEEK-uh-n/ˈwiːkən/

To weaken is to make or become less strong or less effective: weaken a beam, weaken attendance. Strengthen sits opposite; undermine (already in the dictionary) is often secret or gradual. Character is a story; a bus is a timetable.

Meaning

To make or become less strong or less effective.

Examples

• “Cutting the night bus will weaken attendance; “character” is not a timetable.”
• “Undermine is already in this course and often covert. Dilute is a cousin. Character is a caption. A route is logistics. Reinstate the bus, or name the exclusion in the n.”

Good to know

Make less strong. Covert cousin: undermine (already in the dictionary). Character ≠ a timetable.

Near in meaning

dilute

New