enervate

American  

[en-er-veyt, ih-nur-vit] / ˈɛn ərˌveɪt, ɪˈnɜr vɪt /

verb (used with object)

enervated, enervating

1. to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.

   Synonyms:

   exhaust, sap, debilitate, enfeeble

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adjective

1. enervated.

enervate British  

verb

1. (tr) to deprive of strength or vitality; weaken physically or mentally; debilitate

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adjective

1. deprived of strength or vitality; weakened

Other Word Forms

• enervation noun
• enervative adjective
• enervator noun
• nonenervating adjective

Etymology

Origin of enervate

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin ēnervātus “weakened” (past participle of ēnervāre “to weaken”), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + nerv(us) “sinew” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, nerve, -ate ¹; compare Anglo-French enervir, French énerver

Example Sentences

Removing this key link of Westlake Avenue at this critical juncture could undo much of the recovery we’ve fought for and permanently enervate the small businesses of South Lake Union.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2024

Family crises that some might view as a call to action mostly just enervate her: She doesn’t need another reminder that middle age can be overwhelmingly hard and ponderously boring.

From Washington Post • Jan. 14, 2022

Worries over the potential of technology to isolate and enervate citizens long predate Max Headroom, to be sure.

From Slate • Nov. 29, 2019

We prefer wines that are nimble and energetic, that refresh the palate rather than enervate.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2018

The voyage by boat, however, would probably enervate me, and I am certainly not perverse enough to attempt air travel even if I were able to afford it.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole