as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
fear of saying anything controversial has so lobotomized this book on geopolitics that it fails to say anything at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lobotomize
Quinn also needed to lobotomize the football culture and get players to buy into his team-over-me standard.
—
Ben Standig, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
And to do so without fear of being incarcerated, lobotomized, rejected by our families or fired.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
Violet has had Catherine committed, and is advocating for her to be lobotomized by young surgeon John Cukrowicz (gay Hollywood legend Montgomery Clift) in a veiled attempt to keep their past with Sebastian a secret.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 17 June 2024
It’s just absolutely been lobotomized into something that sounds like Wikipedia, essentially.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Aug. 2023
For someone who witnessed the Obama-era phenomenon of Low End Theory, the place seemed lobotomized.
—Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
To lobotomize their ability to access and express the full range of human experience back to consenting adults seems not just puritanical, but a fool’s errand.
—Tabi Jensen, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2023
This attracted all kinds of attention to it, so of course MS lobotomized her.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 17 Feb. 2023
What the choice actually did was magically lobotomize them, sending them wandering the streets.
—Steven Strom, Ars Technica, 6 June 2018
Ben Standig, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
And to do so without fear of being incarcerated, lobotomized, rejected by our families or fired.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
Violet has had Catherine committed, and is advocating for her to be lobotomized by young surgeon John Cukrowicz (gay Hollywood legend Montgomery Clift) in a veiled attempt to keep their past with Sebastian a secret.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 17 June 2024
It’s just absolutely been lobotomized into something that sounds like Wikipedia, essentially.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Aug. 2023
For someone who witnessed the Obama-era phenomenon of Low End Theory, the place seemed lobotomized.
—Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
To lobotomize their ability to access and express the full range of human experience back to consenting adults seems not just puritanical, but a fool’s errand.
—Tabi Jensen, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2023
This attracted all kinds of attention to it, so of course MS lobotomized her.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 17 Feb. 2023
What the choice actually did was magically lobotomize them, sending them wandering the streets.
—Steven Strom, Ars Technica, 6 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lobotomize
Verb
-
Paradise starts strong, but the series undermines its compelling opener with predictable, trope-heavy storytelling that’s only partially salvaged by the drama’s excellent leads.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
-
After all, starting a North American trade war would undermine Trump’s promises to turbocharge the US economy and attack the cost of living.—
Matt Egan,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
At the end of the clip, the singers decide to castrate the ex in question with a pair of tiny scissors and even pose with sharp objects a la Edward Scissorhands.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
-
The shelter notes that Dwayne isn’t castrated, so his new home should only have other males and/or females that have been spayed.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Beijing has also been working to repair ties with American allies like Japan to try to weaken the security alliances forged by the Biden administration to constrain China.—
David Pierson,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
-
However, critics worry bringing minority parties into the majority tent weakens legislative scrutiny.—
Charlie Campbell,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
During her post-surgery recovery, simple tasks like bending over became incredibly difficult, leaving her feeling both physically and emotionally drained.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The result is a graceful character study that explores why someone’s capacity for warmth seems to have long been drained.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
But the last of those emergency dollars are being exhausted this fiscal year and won’t be available to help in the next two-year state budget, which Lamont will propose to lawmakers on Feb. 5.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Two of those teenagers, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, lay flat on their backs at full time, exhausted by yet another 90 minutes.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near lobotomize
Cite this Entry
“Lobotomize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lobotomize. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share