SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
debilitating
adjective
Seriously weakening strength or ability.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Seriously weakening
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topIncapacitating implies inability to function; debilitating may describe a serious reduction without total loss.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See debilitating in use
The constant interruptions had a debilitating effect on the team's concentration.
A debilitating sequence of missing supplies and unanswered messages sharply reduced the fictional expedition's ability to organize departures.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license