What does weakener mean?
Weakener is a noun for a person or thing that reduces the strength, confidence, authority, or effectiveness of something else. The word is especially associated with the construction “a weakener of,” as in “a weakener of morale” or “a weakener of confidence.” Its reference can be concrete or abstract: a policy may weaken local authority, while criticism may weaken a person's confidence or determination. The term can occasionally suggest an intentionally disruptive influence, but it does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. In everyday use, “weaken” as a verb or “weakening agent” may sound more natural. Understanding weakener is nevertheless useful because it identifies not simply the act of becoming less strong, but the person or force responsible for that result.
nounA weakener is a person or thing that makes something weaker, such as reducing confidence, authority, strength, or effectiveness.
- A person or thing that causes something to become weaker.
"Constant criticism was a quiet weakener of the team's confidence."
"The new policy was criticized as a weakener of local autonomy."
"His persistent doubts became a weakener of her resolve."
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple people or things that weaken something else.
"Economic uncertainty was regarded as one of the main weakeners of consumer confidence."
A weakener is not someone who is weak; it is something that makes strength fade.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weakener come from?
Weakener was formed in English by adding the productive suffix -er to weak, creating a noun that denotes an agent or instrument. The adjective weak comes from Old English wac, which could mean “few,” “deficient,” or “lacking in strength.” The suffix -er likewise has Old English roots and is widely used in English to identify someone or something that performs an action.
How weakener is actually used
Weakener is less common than the gerund weakening or the phrase weakening agent. It is typically a countable noun and often appears in the construction “a weakener of” something.
Easily confused with weakener
A weakener is a noun naming the person or thing that causes weakening, whereas weaken is the verb describing the act of making something weaker.