Nõrgendada

Nõrgendada is an Estonian verb meaning to weaken, reduce the strength, intensity, or effectiveness of something. It is used transitively to indicate that something is made weaker, whether in physical terms, in power or influence, or in abstract terms such as arguments or defenses. The action targets another element, not the subject itself.

Etymology: The verb is formed from the adjective nõrk (weak) with a productive suffix that yields verbs indicating a causative or transformative action, giving the sense “to make weak” or “to weaken.”

Usage: Nõrgendada appears in political, legal, scientific, and everyday language when discussing effects that reduce impact or power. Common objects include mõju (influence or effect), vastupanu (resistance), võime or konkurentsivõime (capacity, competitiveness), and, in some contexts, physical strength. Typical collocations include nõrgendada mõju, nõrgendada vastupanu, or nõrgendada konkurentsivõimet.

Examples:

- Uus seadus võib nõrgendada ettevõtete konkurentsivõimet. (The new law may weaken the competitive position of companies.)

- Need otsused võivad nõrgendada avalikku usaldust. (These decisions may weaken public trust.)

- Need meetmed võivad nõrgendada uuringute tulemuste usaldusväärsust. (These measures may weaken the reliability of study results.)

In summary, nõrgendada denotes the act of diminishing strength, influence, or effectiveness and is used across various domains to describe reducing power or impact.