Enervate
/ˈɛnərˌveɪt/
verbC1
Definition
Enervate means to cause a person or thing to lose energy, strength, or vitality. When someone is enervated, they feel weak, tired, or less able to do things. It is often used in formal or academic contexts to describe physical or mental exhaustion.
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See It in Action
To weaken physically or mentally
- •The hot sun enervated the hikers during their long journey.
- •The long illness enervated her body and spirit.
- •Stress and worry can enervate a person quickly.
To cause loss of energy or vitality
- •The slow, boring lecture enervated the students.
- •The heavy work enervated the workers by the afternoon.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "enervate" like "tire," but stronger and more serious—it’s not just a little tired, but very weak and without energy.
- ✓Picture a bright light slowly getting dimmer until it almost goes out, like your energy fading away.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you are so tired after a long day that you can barely stand or think clearly.
- ✓Sounds like "ENER-vate" → imagine your energy being "vated" (taken away), like a battery losing power quickly.
- ✓In stories, heroes become enervated after long battles, losing their strength before the final fight.
- ✓NOT like "energize" (to give energy), enervate means the opposite—energy is taken away.
- ✓NOT like "fatigue" (general tiredness), enervate is stronger, meaning deep weakness or loss of strength.
- ✓NOT like "exhaust" (to use up energy), enervate focuses on the result—feeling weak and drained.
Try Other Words
- •Weaken: to make less strong (Use when focusing on strength loss, physical or mental)
- •Exhaust: to use up all energy (Use when focusing on using energy fully until none is left)
- •Drain: to take away energy or strength gradually (Use when energy is slowly taken away)
- •Fatigue: to feel very tired (Use for general tiredness, less formal)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "e-" (out of, from) + "nerv" (related to nerves or energy) + "-ate" (verb ending meaning to cause)
- •Etymology: From Latin "enervare," meaning "to weaken" or "to take out the nerves"
- •Historical development: Originally referred to removing nerves or strength; later used more generally for weakening energy or power
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in formal writing or speech to describe strong weakening of physical or mental energy
- •Key insight: The word literally means "to take out the nerves," which helps remember it means to make weak or powerless
Reflect & Connect
•Have you ever felt enervated after a particular activity or situation? What caused it?
•How can understanding the word enervate help you describe feelings of tiredness or weakness better?
Fill in the blanks
1.The long, hot day ___ the workers so much that they could barely continue their tasks.
2.When someone feels enervated, they usually need ___ or rest to recover their strength.
3.Unlike feeling just tired, being enervated means your energy is almost completely ___.
4.The difficult exam ___ the students mentally, leaving them feeling drained and weak.
5.Stress and worry can ___ a person’s spirit, making it hard to stay positive.
6.After running for hours without water, the athlete felt completely ___ and had to stop.
7.The boring meeting slowly ___ the employees, who lost focus and energy.