1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a couple of aspirins deadened the headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deaden
Things like that might deaden your palate before your tasting.
—
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 24 Sep. 2024
Another method Tyler has had success with is using hearing aids not to amplify sound but to deaden it.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2024
The weight of responsibility is no longer about maintaining your soul while deadened by the granite-countertop heft of 2005’s suburban expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 2 Feb. 2024
The physicians had injected the woman’s arm with the anesthetic lidocaine—a dose strong enough to deaden her limb for surgery.
—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 24 Sep. 2024
Another method Tyler has had success with is using hearing aids not to amplify sound but to deaden it.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2024
The weight of responsibility is no longer about maintaining your soul while deadened by the granite-countertop heft of 2005’s suburban expectations.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 2 Feb. 2024
The physicians had injected the woman’s arm with the anesthetic lidocaine—a dose strong enough to deaden her limb for surgery.
—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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The talks are set to take place amid concerns that the Kremlin is weaponizing ceasefire negotiations to delay and undermine negotiations for a settlement to the war.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
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You will be expected to trust your agents, for the alternative would be micromanagement, and that would undermine the whole process.—
Jaron Lanier,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Higher temperatures may also reduce the sugar content of maple sap, meaning producers will need to collect and boil more sap to produce the same quantities of syrup.—
Nina Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Seth Jones, president of the defense and security department of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says a trade war that punishes U.S. partners in the region threatens to weaken ties with Asian allies, possibly forcing them to reassess the reliability of U.S. security commitments.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
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The doctor added that recovery would best continue away from the hospital, where exposure to viruses risks weakening the Holy Father's condition.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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An over-reliance on biography can dull a music doc, turning it into a paint-by-numbers enterprise, but just the right amount can bolster it.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
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However, during the total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, the full moon’s light will be dulled and then almost extinguished for the 65 minutes of totality.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With tennis becoming longer and more physical, best-of-five matches wreck players’ bodies, leaving them exhausted by the end of the tournament.—
Gavriella Epstein-Lightman,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
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Do my team members feel energized or exhausted by our culture?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration’s interest in levying tariffs on many countries has dampened the stock market and softened Wall Street’s outlook for growth.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2025
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The current – hopefully temporary – dip in confidence has already dampened the dynamics of the ad market, prompting U.S. to revise our growth forecast for 2025.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Chirping at opposing fans after draining 3-pointers?—
Jay King,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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But with Young draining a 3-pointer with 2:45 to play, the Hawks drew within 114-109.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2025
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Projections of soaring power demand in the U.S. have led utility executives to turn to whatever power source is available—including wind and solar—even as the Trump Administration tries to diminish renewables.—
Justin Worland/Houston,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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