enervate
EN-er-vaytverbMeaning to weaken; to drain of energy
Memory hook E-NERV-ATE: drains the NERVE OUT. The heat wave drains every bit of nerve and strength out of Sven; he flops on the sand like a wet noodle. The heat enervates him.
The long, humid afternoon enervated the hikers, and they barely made it back to camp.
In context Far from energizing the team, the three-hour meeting enervated everyone; by the end, even the coach was slumped in his chair, too tired to speak.
Similar weaken, exhaust, drain, sap
Opposite energize, invigorate, strengthen
From Latin enervare, “to cut out the sinews”: e- (out) + nervus (sinew).