What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wane
Example
The moon is beginning to wane after being full just a few days ago. [wane: verb]
Example
His interest in the project began to wane as it became more difficult. [wane: verb]
weaken
Example
The illness weakened her body and made it difficult to move. [weakened: past tense verb]
Example
The argument weakened his position on the issue. [weakened: past participle adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weaken is more commonly used than wane in everyday language. Weaken is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while wane is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as describing the moon's phases.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wane and weaken?
Both wane and weaken are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
