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

It gives the musical a rousing finish, but cannot erase the enervating effect of much of what has come before.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet when he spoke following the haphazard 2-1 Europa League defeat on Thursday, there was a enervating familiarity about how the Rangers head coach explained away the outcome.

From BBC

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

To be sure, not every episode has been equally good — one or two I would describe as not good — and some story arcs I found more rewarding, or more enervating, than others.

From Los Angeles Times

Rachel — despite her challenges with Celeste, her old lover David, her ailing ex-husband and her enervating work life — also discovers good things about her new life as her body changes.

From Los Angeles Times