What term describes the action of making something weak or less effective?

The term that describes the action of making something weak or less effective is "Schwächung," which is the German word for "weakening." In various contexts, such as physics, materials science, or even in everyday language, to "weaken" something reduces its strength or efficacy. This concept applies in numerous fields, such as the deterioration of materials under stress, the reduction of an organization’s effectiveness, or even biological systems losing their robustness.

In contrast, the other terms present different meanings. "Deformation" refers to the alteration of an object's shape under stress, "deflation" typically involves a reduction in pressure or value, especially in terms of economics or balloons, and "crazing" describes the formation of fine cracks in a material, often due to moisture or thermal expansion. None of these terms directly convey the idea of making something weak or less effective as effectively as "Schwächung" does.