# weaken

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈwikən/ · frequency rank #15,305

## Definitions
1. To make weaker or less strong.
2. To become weaker or less strong.

## Etymology
From weak + -en.

## Easily confused with
- **wean** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-wean)
- **weave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weave)
- **woken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-woken)
- **weapon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weapon)
- **weaker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weaker)
- **weaver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weaver)
- **weasel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weasel)
- **weakly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weakly)
- **wearer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-wearer)
- **Welker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-welker)
- **Whalen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-whalen)
- **weekend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weekend)
- **weakest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weakest)
- **weakened** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weaken-vs-weakened)
- **wake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wake-vs-weaken)
- **weak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weak-vs-weaken)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ewaken`, `waeken`, `weaekn`, `weakenn`, `weakken`, `weakne`, `wekaen`, `wweaken`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/weaken