What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
weaken
Example
The storm weakened the structure of the building. [weakened: past tense]
Example
The medicine may weaken your immune system. [weaken: verb]
lessen
Example
The teacher tried to lessen the workload for her students. [lessen: verb]
Example
The impact of the pandemic has lessened over time. [lessened: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Lessen is more commonly used than weaken in everyday language. Lessen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while weaken is less common and more specific in its usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between weaken and lessen?
Both weaken and lessen are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
