ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›D›debilitate
ISEE/SSAThard
debilitate
to weaken someone's strength or ability severely
Synonyms
- weaken
- enfeeble
- incapacitate
Antonyms
- strengthen
- invigorate
- energize
debilitate in a sentence
The long illness debilitated him so much that he could barely climb the stairs.
Weeks of dehydration and heat had debilitated the hikers long before rescuers finally reached the ridge.
Where it comes from
From Latin debilis 'weak'
Memory hook
DE-BILITATE: takes away your ABILITY to move.
Word parts
- de — opposite, reverse
debilitate: de- (away from) + habil (able) + -itate (make)
Read it in context
- Voices Across Generations Social Science
Practice debilitate in the app