What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abated
Example
The storm abated after several hours of heavy rain. [abated: past tense]
Example
The pain in my leg has abated since I started taking medication. [abated: verb]
weaken
Example
The rope began to weaken after being exposed to the sun for several days. [weaken: verb]
Example
The company's profits weakened due to the economic downturn. [weakened: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weaken is more commonly used than abated in everyday language. Weaken is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while abated is less common and is typically used in more formal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between abated and weaken?
Abated is generally considered more formal than weaken. It is often used in legal or technical writing, while weaken is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
