melemah

Melemah is an Indonesian verb that means to become weaker or to cause something to become weaker. It can describe a decline in strength, influence, performance, or resilience, and it is used in both literal and figurative senses. The word derives from the adjective lemah (weak) with the active prefix me-, which in Indonesian commonly marks action or change of state.

Grammatically, melemah can appear intransitively, as in a situation where something gradually loses strength: hubung­an itu melemah (the relationship is weakening). It also has a causative form melemahkan, used when someone or something causes another thing to weaken: kebijakan tersebut melemahkan perekonomian negara (that policy weakens the country’s economy). The choice between melemah and melemahkan depends on whether the focus is on the change of state or on the act of causing that change.

Common contexts for melemah include politics, economics, security, and social relations, as well as physical or health-related strength. It is frequently used in news reporting, analyses, and formal writing, but is also found in everyday speech. Synonyms and related expressions include melemahkan, menurun, merosot, and lemah, depending on nuance and grammatical construction.

Notes on usage: melemah emphasizes the process or result of diminished strength, while melemahkan emphasizes an external or intentional act that reduces strength. The term does not imply a fixed or permanent state and can describe temporary or reversible declines as well as more sustained ones.