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ACT Exam Literacy - Weakness and Deterioration

Here you will learn some English words related to weakness and deterioration, such as "stifle", "incapacitate", "sap", etc. that will help you ace your ACTs.

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Essential Vocabulary for ACT
to decline

to gradually weaken or worsen in condition or performance

Ex: Without proper maintenance , the condition of the historic building began to decline.
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to diminish

to decrease in degree, size, etc.

Ex: Demand for the product diminished after the initial launch .
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to dwindle

to diminish in quantity or size over time

Ex: The community 's interest in the local club has dwindled, impacting attendance at events .
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to subside

to decline in intensity or strength

Ex: The noise from the construction site has finally subsided after weeks of disturbance .
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to sap
to sap
[Verb]

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

Ex: The prolonged illness sapped his physical strength .
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to recede
to recede
[Verb]

to diminish in intensity, visibility, or prominence

Ex: The crowd 's cheers receded as the marathon runner neared the finish line .
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to undermine

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

Ex: The economic downturn severely undermined the company 's financial stability .
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to wither
to wither
[Verb]

to decline, weaken, or deteriorate, often in terms of strength, vitality, or overall condition

Ex: The relationship between the two countries began to wither due to unresolved conflicts and misunderstandings .
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to incapacitate

to make something unable to work properly

Ex: The factory ’s main conveyor belt was incapacitated by a mechanical jam , stalling production .
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to crumble

to become weak or begin to fail

Ex: The peace agreement between the two nations started to crumble as tensions escalated along the border .
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to degrade

to reduce the quality or effectiveness of something

Ex: The faulty design has degraded the product 's reliability .
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to dilute
to dilute
[Verb]

to make something less forceful, potent, or intense by adding additional elements or substances

Ex: Aware of the public 's concerns , the government promised not to dilute the environmental regulations despite pressure from certain industries .
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to wane
to wane
[Verb]

to gradually decrease in intensity, strength, importance, size, influence, etc.

Ex: The organization expects the controversy to wane as more information becomes available .
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to dissipate

to gradually disappear or spread out

Ex: The heat has dissipated after hours of cooling .
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to exacerbate

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

Ex: We exacerbated the misunderstanding by not clarifying sooner .
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to stifle
to stifle
[Verb]

to suppress, restrain, or hinder the growth, development, or intensity of something

Ex: The lack of support and encouragement from family can stifle a person 's aspirations and ambitions .
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vulnerable
vulnerable
[Adjective]

able to be physically harmed or wounded

Ex: The stray dog , injured and alone , appeared vulnerable on the streets .
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delicate
delicate
[Adjective]

easily harmed or destroyed

Ex: The delicate artwork was protected behind glass in the museum .
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subtle
subtle
[Adjective]

difficult to notice or detect because of its slight or delicate nature

Ex: The changes to the menu were subtle but effective , enhancing the overall dining experience .
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fragile
fragile
[Adjective]

easily damaged or broken

Ex: The fragile relationship between the two countries was strained by recent tensions .
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flimsy
flimsy
[Adjective]

likely to break due to the lack of strength or durability

Ex: The flimsy support beams in the old house made it unsafe to live in .
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helpless
helpless
[Adjective]

lacking strength or power, often feeling unable to act or influence a situation

Ex: He was rendered helpless by the illness , unable to perform even simple tasks .
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brittle
brittle
[Adjective]

easily broken, cracked, or shattered due to the lack of flexibility and resilience

Ex: The cookie had a brittle texture , with a satisfying crunch as you took a bite .
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tenuous
tenuous
[Adjective]

very delicate or thin

Ex: He held onto the tenuous thread , hoping it would support the weight of the object .
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deficiency

a flaw, weakness, or shortcoming that reduces the effectiveness, quality, or completeness of something

Ex: The software 's biggest deficiency is its slow response time .
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disability

a physical or mental condition that prevents a person from using some part of their body completely or learning something easily

Ex: Disability should not prevent someone from achieving their goals .
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shortcoming

a flaw or weakness that reduces the quality or effectiveness of something or someone

Ex: The book 's only shortcoming was its abrupt ending , leaving many questions unanswered .
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defect
defect
[noun]

a flaw or deficiency that impairs the quality or effectiveness of something

Ex: The house was sold at a lower price because of a structural defect in the foundation .
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