Literary notes about Debilitating (AI summary)
Literary usage of "debilitating" captures the sense of an overwhelming force that gradually drains physical energy, mental acuity, or even societal vitality. Writers apply the term to literal conditions—a punishing heat that saps bodily strength ([1], [2], [3], [4])—as well as to more abstract influences such as oppressive ideologies or cultural forces that erode spirit and resolve ([5], [6], [7]). In some works the word illustrates the insidious decline of an individual or a community, evoking images of illness, fatigue, or environmental strain that steadily diminish capacity and morale ([8], [9], [10]).
- Very hot weather is debilitating, and below zero is uncomfortable.
— from Searchlights on Health: Light on Dark Corners A Complete Sexual Science and a Guide to Purity and Physical Manhood, Advice To Maiden, Wife, And Mother, Love, Courtship, And Marriage by B. G. (Benjamin Grant) Jefferis - After mid-April, the noon-day heat was debilitating, and I suffered appreciable diminution of vigor.
— from Loitering in Pleasant Paths by Marion Harland - High temperatures will increase the discomfort and debilitating effects on personnel wearing MOPP, especially heat injuries.
— from Health Service Support in a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Environment Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures by United States. Department of the Army - The summer heats are debilitating, especially in the interior.
— from A Guide-Book of Florida and the South for Tourists, Invalids and Emigrants by Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison) Brinton - The South has not yet recovered from the debilitating influence of his books.
— from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain - For most of the people involved, the words "stock options" worked their normal, morally debilitating magic.
— from The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by James Boyle - He saw even more clearly than Emerson the futility and debilitating effect of extravagance and luxury— page 101 p. 101 especially American luxury.
— from The Vagabond in Literature by Arthur Compton-Rickett - Oppressive, and debilitating for any one accustomed to breathe freely."
— from The Alpine Fay: A Romance by E. Werner - We were both attacked almost on the same day by a disorder which with my fellow-traveller took the character of a debilitating fever.
— from Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Alexander von Humboldt - But the consciousness of weakness is by itself debilitating, and but increases the weakness of which it is painfully aware.
— from Expositions of Holy Scripture Second Kings Chapters VIII to End and Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Esther, Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes by Alexander Maclaren
