What does enfeebling mean?
Enfeebling describes the process of making someone or something weaker — draining them of physical strength, energy, or effectiveness. It functions both as the present participle of the verb 'to enfeeble' and as an adjective, typically appearing in phrases such as 'an enfeebling illness' or 'an enfeebling effect'. While it most often refers to literal bodily decline caused by age, sickness, or hardship, it can also be applied figuratively to institutions, economies, or arguments that have been sapped of their vigor. The word carries a somewhat formal, literary tone, and its negative connotation makes it well suited to describing gradual, wearing decline rather than sudden destruction. Derived from the adjective 'feeble', which ultimately traces back through Old French to the Latin 'flebilis' ('lamentable', from 'flere', 'to weep'), enfeebling offers writers a precise and evocative alternative to more everyday terms like 'weakening' or 'debilitating'.
Present participle of 'enfeeble': weakening or depriving of strength or vigor.
"The drought was slowly enfeebling the once-thriving orchards."
That weakens or drains of strength or effectiveness.
"He struggled against the enfeebling effects of the tropical climate."
Usually used attributively, as in 'an enfeebling disease'.
Enfeebling traces back to a Latin verb meaning 'to weep' — so to enfeeble someone is, etymologically speaking, to reduce them to tears.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enfeebling
Enfeebling derives from the verb 'enfeeble', formed in Middle English from the prefix 'en-' ('to make') plus 'feeble'. 'Feeble' came into English from Old French 'feble', which descends from the Latin 'flebilis', meaning 'lamentable' or 'to be wept over', itself from 'flere', 'to weep'. The word has carried its sense of weakening since at least the early modern period, with cognates including 'deplore' and 'deplorable', which share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How enfeebling is actually used
Somewhat formal or literary in register; in everyday speech, 'weakening' or 'debilitating' is more common. Often appears attributively before nouns such as 'illness', 'disease', or 'effect'.
Easily confused with enfeebling
Though it looks similar, 'enabling' means giving power or ability to do something — the opposite of 'enfeebling', which drains strength.