Definitions
- Describing the process of removing energy or vitality from something. - Referring to the weakening or reduction of strength in something. - Talking about the loss of effectiveness or liveliness in something.
- Referring to the weakening or reduction of strength in someone or something. - Describing the process of causing someone or something to become weak or feeble. - Talking about the loss of physical or mental ability due to illness or injury.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a reduction in strength or effectiveness.
- 2Both words can be used to describe physical or mental conditions.
- 3Both words imply a negative impact on the subject.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Debilitate implies a more severe and long-lasting effect than devitalize.
- 2Cause: Debilitate suggests an external cause, such as illness or injury, while devitalize can be caused by internal or external factors.
- 3Scope: Debilitate can refer to a person, animal, or thing, while devitalize is typically used for non-living things.
- 4Connotation: Debilitate has a stronger negative connotation than devitalize, which can be neutral or slightly negative.
- 5Usage: Debilitate is more commonly used than devitalize in everyday language.
Remember this!
Devitalize and debilitate are synonyms that describe a reduction in strength or effectiveness. However, debilitate implies a more severe and long-lasting effect caused by external factors such as illness or injury, while devitalize can be caused by internal or external factors and is typically used for non-living things.
