Gyengít

Gyengít is a Hungarian verb meaning to render something weaker, reducing its strength, effectiveness, or force. It can refer to physical weakening of an object or organism, as well as to diminishing the strength or credibility of non-physical things such as arguments, positions, institutions, or systems. The word is transitive and typically requires a direct object in sentences.

Etymology and related forms: Gyengít is formed from the adjective gyenge (weak) with the causative suffix -ít, producing a verb that means “to cause to become weak.” Related forms include gyengítés (the act of weakening) and gyengítő (the agent or thing that weakens). The related intransitive verb gyengül means “to become weaker,” providing a semantic contrast with gyengít.

Usage and nuance: Gyengít is used across domains, from physics and engineering (reducing strength or performance) to politics, economics, and everyday language (undermining influence, credibility, or resilience). The word conveys a deliberate or inherent reduction in strength or effectiveness and can imply partial or complete diminishment depending on context.

Examples:

- A döntés gyengíti a vállalat piaci pozícióját. (The decision weakens the company’s market position.)

- A kritika gyengíti az érvelés hitelességét. (The criticism weakens the credibility of the argument.)

See also: gyengítés, gyengeség, gyengítő.