debilitar
Lemma: debilitar
Translation: to weaken; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to undermine (verb)
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'debilitare' meaning 'to weaken', which comes from 'debilis' (weak, feeble). The English cognate 'debilitate' shares the same Latin root. The prefix 'de-' indicates removal or reduction, while the root relates to 'ability' or 'strength', essentially meaning 'to reduce strength'.
Example Usage
El virus puede debilitar el sistema inmunológico.
The virus can weaken the immune system.
La falta de ejercicio debilita los músculos.
Lack of exercise weakens the muscles.
La enfermedad debilitó su sistema inmunológico.
The illness weakened his immune system.
La corrupción debilita la democracia.
Corruption undermines democracy.
El estrés crónico puede debilitar tu salud mental.
Chronic stress can weaken your mental health.
Las sanciones económicas debilitaron la economía del país.
Economic sanctions weakened the country's economy.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'debilitate' in English, which means the same thing.
- Remember 'débil' (weak) + '-itar' (verb ending) = 'to make weak'.
- Picture a battery losing power and becoming 'debilitated'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Commonly used in medical contexts to describe conditions that weaken the body, as well as in political or economic discussions about factors that undermine systems or institutions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Debilitar' means to weaken or reduce strength, while 'deshabilitar' means to disable or deactivate something, especially in technical contexts.
Confused word:
Tuve que deshabilitar mi cuenta de redes sociales.
I had to disable my social media account.
Notes: 'Debilitar' is more about reducing strength or power, while 'deshabilitar' is about turning off functionality.
Mnemonic: 'Debilitar' relates to 'débil' (weak), while 'deshabilitar' relates to 'habilidad' (ability) - to remove ability.
Explanation: 'Debilitar' means to weaken, while 'delimitar' means to delimit or set boundaries.
Confused word:
Es importante delimitar las responsabilidades de cada departamento.
It's important to delimit the responsibilities of each department.
Notes: These words look similar but have completely different meanings and contexts of use.
Mnemonic: 'Delimitar' contains 'límite' (limit), so it's about setting limits or boundaries.