Definitions
- Describing a decrease in physical strength or power. - Referring to a reduction in the intensity or force of something. - Talking about a decline in the effectiveness or impact of something.
- Referring to a decrease in size, amount, or quantity. - Describing a lowering of the degree or intensity of something. - Talking about simplifying or breaking down something into smaller parts.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve a decrease or lessening of something.
- 2Both can be used to describe physical or abstract concepts.
- 3Both can be used as verbs or participles.
- 4Both can be used in formal or informal contexts.
- 5Both can be used to describe a process or result.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Reduce is broader and can refer to a decrease in size, amount, or quantity, while weaken is more specific to a decrease in strength or power.
- 2Intensity: Reduce implies a lowering of degree or intensity, while weaken implies a loss of strength or power.
- 3Cause: Reduce can be caused by intentional action or natural processes, while weaken is often caused by external factors or illness.
- 4Focus: Reduce emphasizes the final result, while weaken emphasizes the process or state of being weakened.
- 5Usage: Reduce is more versatile and commonly used than weaken in everyday language.
Remember this!
Weaken and reduce are synonyms that both describe a decrease or lessening of something. However, reduce is broader and can refer to a decrease in size, amount, or quantity, while weaken is more specific to a decrease in strength or power. Additionally, reduce implies a lowering of degree or intensity, while weaken implies a loss of strength or power.