1
as in undermined
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduced
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 deadened
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadened
Adjective
-
But his instincts fail him continually in a dull, emotionally anesthetized story that surges to life only in the presence of Otone’s combative mother-in-law (Kimiko Yo), who seems rightly skeptical of Kakeru 2.0.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 May 2026
-
Future research could help clinicians guide the anesthetized brain toward a sleep-like state, rather than a coma-like one.—
Lucy Nemchek,
Hartford Courant,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Even some allies wondered if Steyer’s wealth undermined his populist message.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
Producers have been cowed internally after the show has been undermined by a media company that has consistently refused to stand up for it in public.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks are down by 23 points early in the second quarter, and are only shooting 33% from the field, and Madison Square Garden has been reduced to murmurs.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Language barriers may soon be greatly reduced, allowing for a historically impossible level of information sharing and growth.—
Jessica Melugin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Becka is drugged and married off to Garth (Brad Alexander), the man Agnes is in love with.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
-
After the first injection, Plaintiff appeared drugged on camera.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Since taking office in October 2024, President Prabowo Subianto has weakened the institutional guardrails that once constrained fiscal expansion and protected central‑bank independence.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Over the course of two summers, the Kings weakened the fulcrum of their roster by losing Matt Roy and Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency, then exacerbating matters by casting off Jordan Spence for a modest return.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The sparkle of the moment is somewhat dulled, though, when Mark turns to Margo and claims to have never called CPS on her.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
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His helmet was not matte black, after all, but scratched up and dulled by dings and scuffings.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The boy is stupefied, snot intermingling with the puke dripping from his mouth to his navel.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Federal pandemic-relief funds were exhausted in 2025.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
The forecast shows the trust fund will be exhausted three months earlier than was predicted last year.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadened. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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