verb

deprive of strength and vigour.

technological progress has given enormous power to humanity, but at the cost of devitalizing the spirit of the individual

weaken,make weak,make feeble,enfeeble,debilitate,enervate,sap,drain,tax,overtax,wash out,overtire,exhaust,weary,tire,tire out,fatigue,jade,wear out,prostrate,undermine,impair,render infirm,indispose,incapacitate,cripple,disable,paralyse,immobilize,lay low,put out of action,knock out,do in,knacker,shatter,whack,bush,frazzle,wear to a frazzle,poop,take it out of,fag out,torpefy