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Weakness and Deterioration

ACT Exam Literacy / Weakness and Deterioration

Weakness and Deterioration

28 Words

14m

1
decline
dec
line
Verb

to gradually weaken or worsen in condition or performance

His health began to decline after he stopped following his doctor's recommendations for exercise and diet.

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2
diminish
di
mi
nish
Verb

to decrease in degree, size, etc.

The effects of the medication gradually diminish over time.

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3
dwindle
dwin
dle
Verb

to diminish in quantity or size over time

The water level in the reservoir began to dwindle during the dry season.

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4
subside
sub
side
Verb

to decline in intensity or strength

After the storm, the winds gradually subside.

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5
sap
sap
Verb

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

Constant stress can sap one's mental resilience.

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6
recede
re
cede
Verb

(of a man's hair) to cease to grow and become bald from the front hairline

As he aged, he noticed his hair starting to recede.

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7
undermine
un
der
mine
Verb

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

Skipping maintenance checks might undermine the long-term reliability of the equipment.

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8
wither
wi
ther
Verb

to dry up or shrink, typically due to a loss of moisture

Without regular watering, plants in the garden tend to wither.

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9
incapacitate
in
ca
pa
ci
tate
Verb

to make something unable to work properly

The power outage incapacitated the entire building, rendering all electronic devices and equipment non-functional.

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10
crumble
crum
ble
Verb

(of a building) to fall apart

After years of neglect, the old abandoned house began to crumble, its walls giving way to the elements.

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11
degrade
deg
rade
Verb

(of human activities or natural forces) to gradually break down rocks, mountains, hills, etc.

The constant freeze and thaw cycles degrade the rock faces.

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12
dilute
di
lute
Verb

to make a solution or mixture weaker or less concentrated by adding more liquid

To make it more palatable, you can dilute the juice with water.

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13
wane
wane
Verb

to gradually decrease in intensity, strength, importance, size, influence, etc.

The popularity of the trend is currently waning among the younger generation.

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14
dissipate
di
ssi
pate
Verb

to gradually disappear or spread out

The morning mist began to dissipate as the sun rose higher in the sky.

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15
exacerbate
e
xa
cer
bate
Verb

to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse or more severe

Ignoring the issue can exacerbate the problems in the long run.

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16
stifle
sti
fle
Verb

to die or struggle for breath due to a lack of oxygen

The closed room made him feel like he would stifle without fresh air.

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17
vulnerable
vul
ne
ra
ble
Adjective

able to be physically harmed or wounded

The baby birds in the nest were vulnerable to predators until they learned to fly.

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18
delicate
de
li
cate
Adjective

small and attractive in shape, structure, or appearance

The delicate ballerina moved across the stage with grace and precision, captivating the audience with her elegant movements.

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19
subtle
su
btle
Adjective

difficult to notice or detect because of its slight or delicate nature

The artist used subtle brushstrokes to create a sense of depth and movement in the painting.

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20
fragile
fra
gile
Adjective

easily damaged or broken

The butterfly's wings were fragile, thin and translucent in the sunlight.

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21
flimsy
flim
sy
Adjective

likely to break due to the lack of strength or durability

The flimsy cardboard box fell apart when it was lifted.

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22
helpless
help
less
Adjective

lacking strength or power, often feeling unable to act or influence a situation

She felt helpless as she watched the car accident unfold before her eyes.

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23
brittle
bri
ttle
Adjective

easily broken, cracked, or shattered due to the lack of flexibility and resilience

With each step, the brittle twigs underfoot snapped loudly in the quiet forest.

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24
tenuous
ten
uo
us
Adjective

very weak or insubstantial

The connection between the two events was tenuous at best, with little evidence to support it.

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25
deficiency
de
fi
cien
cy
Noun

the condition of not having enough of something essential, expected, or required, whether in amount, quality, or strength

The test showed a serious iron deficiency.

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26
disability
dis
a
bi
li
ty
Noun

a physical or mental condition that prevents a person from using some part of their body completely or learning something easily

He was born with a disability that affects his ability to walk.

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27
shortcoming
short
co
ming
Noun

a flaw or weakness that reduces the quality or effectiveness of something or someone

Despite his many talents, his inability to delegate tasks was a significant shortcoming.

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28
defect
de
fect
Noun

a flaw or deficiency that impairs the quality or effectiveness of something

The car was recalled due to a defect in the braking system that could cause accidents.

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