debilitate

UK: dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt | US: dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt

Definition
  1. vt. to weaken or make someone or something physically or mentally feeble

  2. vt. to impair the strength or vitality of

Structure
de <down, away>bilit <strength>ate <verb suffix>de <down, away>bilit <strength>ate <verb suffix>
Etymology

Debilitate traces back to Latin debilitare ("to weaken"), combining de- (indicating reversal) and -bilitare (from habilis, meaning "able"). The word originally conveyed the idea of "taking away ability" and evolved into its modern sense of causing physical or mental weakness. The morpheme bilit is a reduced form tied to strength, appearing in words like "ability" and "rehabilitate."

Examples
  1. The prolonged illness debilitated his immune system.

  2. Economic sanctions can debilitate a nation's infrastructure.

  3. Sleep deprivation debilitates cognitive function over time.

  4. The harsh climate debilitated the explorers' endurance.

  5. Chronic stress may debilitate both mental and physical health.