Verbs of Making and Changing - Verbs for Negative Change

Here you will learn some English verbs referring to negative change such as "weaken", "downgrade", and "negate".

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Verbs of Making and Changing
to debilitate
to debilitate [verb]

to make someone or something weaker or less effective

Ex: Malnutrition can debilitate a child 's growth and development , leading to long-term health issues .
to disable
to disable [verb]

to prevent someone or something from being able to perform a specific action or function

Ex: In emergencies , authorities may disable certain functions of electronic devices .
to incapacitate
to incapacitate [verb]

to make something unable to work properly

Ex: The virus incapacitated the computer network , halting all communications within the company .
to weaken
to weaken [verb]

to make something physically or structurally less strong or sturdy

Ex: Ignoring warning signs of deterioration can weaken the foundation of a building .
to downgrade
to downgrade [verb]

to lower the rank, status, or quality of something

Ex: Companies may downgrade a product if it fails to meet quality standards .
to relegate
to relegate [verb]

to appoint a person or thing to a lower status, position, or rank

Ex: In academic settings , failing grades may relegate a student to a lower academic level .
to negate
to negate [verb]

to make something not effective by balancing or counteracting its effects

Ex: Overusing certain phrases in writing can negate their intended emphasis .
to deteriorate
to deteriorate [verb]

to decline in quality, condition, or overall state

Ex: The health of plants may deteriorate if not provided with proper care .
to worsen
to worsen [verb]

to make something get worse or more unfavorable than it was before

Ex: Ignoring early signs of illness may worsen the health situation .
to mess
to mess [verb]

to make something dirty or some place untidy

Ex: Neglecting to clean can mess the overall cleanliness of a house .
to exacerbate
to exacerbate [verb]

to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse or more severe

Ex: Harsh weather conditions can exacerbate damage to infrastructure .
to aggravate
to aggravate [verb]

to make a problem, situation, or condition worse or more serious

Ex: Skipping physical therapy sessions may aggravate a recovering injury .
to enfeeble
to enfeeble [verb]

to cause someone or something to lose strength

Ex: It enfeebles mental acuity when you consistently lack sleep .
to sap
to sap [verb]

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

Ex: Financial struggles can sap emotional well-being and stability .
to atrophy
to atrophy [verb]

to gradually decline, typically due to lack of use, nourishment, or stimulation

Ex:
Verbs of Making and Changing
Verbs for Production and Construction Verbs for Emission Verbs for Mixing and Merging Verbs for Change
Verbs for Positive Change Verbs for Negative Change Verbs for Changes of Intensity Verbs for Increases in Quantity or Size
Verbs for Decreases in Quantity or Size Verbs for Structural Changes Verbs for Changes in Color Verbs for Changes in Temperature