Word of the Day
: February 15, 2024

\EN-er-vayt\ verb

What It Means

Enervate is a formal word used for situations in which someone or something is being sapped of physical or mental vigor, vitality, or strength. The verb is most common in the participial forms enervated and enervating, as in "children enervated by the summer afternoon heat" and "a tedious discussion we found completely enervating."

// The person giving the lengthy toast seemed to be completely unaware of the degree to which he was enervating his audience.

See the entry >

enervate in Context

All Merriam-Webster content is available at www.merriam-webster.com