1. (

• weaken ,

) lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body" ;

2. (

• weaken

) become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" ;

3. (

• sabotage ,
• undermine ,
• countermine ,
• counteract ,
• subvert ,
• weaken

) destroy property or hinder normal operations; "The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war" ;

4. (

• de-escalate ,
• weaken ,
• step_down ,

) reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of; "de-escalate a crisis" ;

5. (

• dampen ,
• damp ,
• soften ,
• weaken ,
• break ,

) lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall" ;