Debilitate
verb
To make someone or something weak or unable.
The disease can severely debilitate its victims.
Often appears as...
- debilitate someone's health
- debilitate the system
verb
To lessen the strength or effectiveness of something.
Chemotherapy can debilitate the body's immune system.
Often appears as...
- debilitate the immune system
- debilitate one's abilities
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To make someone or something weak or unable.
The disease can severely debilitate its victims.
Often appears as...
- debilitate someone's health
- debilitate the system
verb
To lessen the strength or effectiveness of something.
Chemotherapy can debilitate the body's immune system.
Often appears as...
- debilitate the immune system
- debilitate one's abilities
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Impact
Debilitate implies a serious weakening effect, not just a slight hindrance.
The invasive species has debilitated the local ecosystem.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Effect
Use 'debilitate' to express a long-term or progressive weakening, rather than a temporary one.
Years of neglect have debilitated the infrastructure of the town.
Pro Tip 3/3Total Incapacitation
It can imply reducing strength to the point of near incapacitation, not just lessening it.
Without its leader, the movement was debilitated.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Impact
Debilitate implies a serious weakening effect, not just a slight hindrance.
The invasive species has debilitated the local ecosystem.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Effect
Use 'debilitate' to express a long-term or progressive weakening, rather than a temporary one.
Years of neglect have debilitated the infrastructure of the town.
Pro Tip 3/3Total Incapacitation
It can imply reducing strength to the point of near incapacitation, not just lessening it.
Without its leader, the movement was debilitated.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Impact
Debilitate implies a serious weakening effect, not just a slight hindrance.
The invasive species has debilitated the local ecosystem.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Effect
Use 'debilitate' to express a long-term or progressive weakening, rather than a temporary one.
Years of neglect have debilitated the infrastructure of the town.
Pro Tip 3/3Total Incapacitation
It can imply reducing strength to the point of near incapacitation, not just lessening it.
Without its leader, the movement was debilitated.
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Video examples
What it's like to be a...
And that meant I had to get real about the discomfort I have with my body. It's pretty common for trans people to feel uncomfortable in their body, and this discomfort can range from debilitating to annoying and everywhere in between. And learning my body and how to be comfortable in it as a trans person has been a lifelong journey.
Video examples
Art of the Matter PIPE Nat...
at that point I was at the peak of my fashion career. So, I had just launched a label, I wanted to take that the next step forward, but then when this unfolded I was just completely debilitated. I was in my bed sobbing for about a month and I realized that I couldn't just go on with my life
Video examples
Time is memory and you...
debilitated by severe epilepsy and after many years of suffering he opted to undergo a surgery to relieve his seizures however after the surgery HM could no longer form any new memories he could remember all of his years leading up to the surgery but no matter how many
Video examples
How good are you at...
that aren’t directly comparable. If, for example, the heart attack drug carried a higher risk of a debilitating, but not life-threatening, side effect like migraines rather than cancer, our evaluation of whether that risk is worth taking might change.
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war and pay reparations, debilitating its already weakened economy. All this was seen as a humiliation by many nationalists and veterans. They wrongly believed the war could have been won
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
like excessive hand washing, or checking things repeatedly, may be examples of obsessive or compulsive tendencies that many of us exhibit from time to time. But the actual disorder is far more rare and can be quite debilitating.
Video examples
Is marijuana bad for...
and even heavy use doesn’t lead to debilitating or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if use stops. There are more subtle forms of marijuana withdrawal, though, including sleep disturbances, irritability, and depressed mood,
Video examples
Why do we sleep? PIPE...
is really informing the way we think about some of the causes of mental illness, and indeed is providing us new ways to treat these incredibly debilitating conditions. Jim Butcher, the fantasy writer, said,
Video examples
What almost dying taught...
who'd spent most of his life struggling with a mysterious, debilitating health condition that he'd had from the time he was a young man. I heard from an inmate on death row in Texas
Video examples
Jaguar Hunting at Night...
peccary could lead to a debilitating infection so it works carefully it may spy on a group of peccaries for several nights and then use its experience of
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
And that meant I had to get real about the discomfort I have with my body. It's pretty common for trans people to feel uncomfortable in their body, and this discomfort can range from debilitating to annoying and everywhere in between. And learning my body and how to be comfortable in it as a trans person has been a lifelong journey.
Video examples
Art of the Matter PIPE Nat...
at that point I was at the peak of my fashion career. So, I had just launched a label, I wanted to take that the next step forward, but then when this unfolded I was just completely debilitated. I was in my bed sobbing for about a month and I realized that I couldn't just go on with my life
Video examples
Time is memory and you...
debilitated by severe epilepsy and after many years of suffering he opted to undergo a surgery to relieve his seizures however after the surgery HM could no longer form any new memories he could remember all of his years leading up to the surgery but no matter how many
Video examples
How good are you at...
that aren’t directly comparable. If, for example, the heart attack drug carried a higher risk of a debilitating, but not life-threatening, side effect like migraines rather than cancer, our evaluation of whether that risk is worth taking might change.
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war and pay reparations, debilitating its already weakened economy. All this was seen as a humiliation by many nationalists and veterans. They wrongly believed the war could have been won
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
like excessive hand washing, or checking things repeatedly, may be examples of obsessive or compulsive tendencies that many of us exhibit from time to time. But the actual disorder is far more rare and can be quite debilitating.
Video examples
Is marijuana bad for...
and even heavy use doesn’t lead to debilitating or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if use stops. There are more subtle forms of marijuana withdrawal, though, including sleep disturbances, irritability, and depressed mood,
Video examples
Why do we sleep? PIPE...
is really informing the way we think about some of the causes of mental illness, and indeed is providing us new ways to treat these incredibly debilitating conditions. Jim Butcher, the fantasy writer, said,
Video examples
What almost dying taught...
who'd spent most of his life struggling with a mysterious, debilitating health condition that he'd had from the time he was a young man. I heard from an inmate on death row in Texas
Video examples
Jaguar Hunting at Night...
peccary could lead to a debilitating infection so it works carefully it may spy on a group of peccaries for several nights and then use its experience of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Seth Berkley
American Scientist
For just a few dollars a dose, vaccines save lives and help reduce poverty. Unlike medical treatment, they provide a lifetime of protection from deadly and debilitating disease. They are safe and effective. They cut healthcare and treatment costs, reduce the number of hospital visits, and ensure healthier children, families and communities.
Quote examples
Neil Gorsuch
American Judge
We have all witnessed, as well, family, friends, or medical workers who have chosen to provide years of loving care to persons who may suffer from Alzheimer's or other debilitating illnesses precisely because they are human persons, not because doing so instrumentally advances some other hidden objective.
Quote examples
Ron Wyden
American Politician
In today's world, it is shortsighted to think that infectious diseases cannot cross borders. By allowing developing countries access to generic drugs, we not only help improve health in those nations, we also help ourselves control these debilitating and often deadly diseases.
Quote examples
Kevyn Aucoin
American Artist
Fear is the most debilitating emotion in the world, and it can keep you from ever truly knowing yourself and others - its adverse effects can no longer be overlooked or underestimated. Fear breeds hatred, and hatred has the power to destroy everything in its path.
Quote examples
Greg Norman
Australian Athlete
People in this room must have back problems, I'm sure some of us do, and it is really, really one of the worst pains and debilitating parts of your body that you can actually have because you really can't do anything in your life when you have it.
Quote examples
Rachel Sklar
Canadian Lawyer
I am pro-choice, but I don't consider that inconsistent at all with pro-life - there's no way that having an abortion, ever, is an easy decision, and it more often errs on the side of absolutely wrenching, not to mention physically debilitating.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
Lyme disease has become a fast epidemic worldwide. I am determined to help find a cure and figure out a way to share knowledge with the millions of people struggling with this debilitating disease.
Quote examples
Jim Davis
American Cartoonist
There are so many opportunities in life, that the loss of two or three capabilities is not necessarily debilitating. A handicap can give you the opportunity to focus more on art, writing, or music.
Quote examples
Joseph B. Wirthlin
American Businessman
Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health.
Quote examples
Willie Aames
American Actor
When you go through a traumatic event, there's a lot of shame that comes with that. A lot of loss of self-esteem. That can become debilitating.
Quote examples
Seth Berkley
American Scientist
For just a few dollars a dose, vaccines save lives and help reduce poverty. Unlike medical treatment, they provide a lifetime of protection from deadly and debilitating disease. They are safe and effective. They cut healthcare and treatment costs, reduce the number of hospital visits, and ensure healthier children, families and communities.
Quote examples
Neil Gorsuch
American Judge
We have all witnessed, as well, family, friends, or medical workers who have chosen to provide years of loving care to persons who may suffer from Alzheimer's or other debilitating illnesses precisely because they are human persons, not because doing so instrumentally advances some other hidden objective.
Quote examples
Ron Wyden
American Politician
In today's world, it is shortsighted to think that infectious diseases cannot cross borders. By allowing developing countries access to generic drugs, we not only help improve health in those nations, we also help ourselves control these debilitating and often deadly diseases.
Quote examples
Kevyn Aucoin
American Artist
Fear is the most debilitating emotion in the world, and it can keep you from ever truly knowing yourself and others - its adverse effects can no longer be overlooked or underestimated. Fear breeds hatred, and hatred has the power to destroy everything in its path.
Quote examples
Greg Norman
Australian Athlete
People in this room must have back problems, I'm sure some of us do, and it is really, really one of the worst pains and debilitating parts of your body that you can actually have because you really can't do anything in your life when you have it.
Quote examples
Rachel Sklar
Canadian Lawyer
I am pro-choice, but I don't consider that inconsistent at all with pro-life - there's no way that having an abortion, ever, is an easy decision, and it more often errs on the side of absolutely wrenching, not to mention physically debilitating.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
Lyme disease has become a fast epidemic worldwide. I am determined to help find a cure and figure out a way to share knowledge with the millions of people struggling with this debilitating disease.
Quote examples
Jim Davis
American Cartoonist
There are so many opportunities in life, that the loss of two or three capabilities is not necessarily debilitating. A handicap can give you the opportunity to focus more on art, writing, or music.
Quote examples
Joseph B. Wirthlin
American Businessman
Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health.
Quote examples
Willie Aames
American Actor
When you go through a traumatic event, there's a lot of shame that comes with that. A lot of loss of self-esteem. That can become debilitating.
Example 1 of 10
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