What does the word 'attenuate' imply?

Boost your GRE vocabulary skills with engaging flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to improve understanding and confidence for the exam!

The word 'attenuate' means to reduce in force, effect, or degree; essentially, it implies a process of weakening or diminishing something. In various contexts, such as science, medicine, and even in everyday language, 'attenuate' is used to describe a decrease in intensity or strength, whether referring to the attenuation of a sound signal, the dilution of a substance, or the weakening of a disease agent in vaccines.

This understanding aligns perfectly with the choice that states it means "to weaken in strength or magnitude." Thus, recognizing that 'attenuate' conveys a reduction highlights its specific connotation and usage across multiple disciplines.

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