as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
time had cauterized his bitterness, and he was willing to let bygones be bygones
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Recent Examples of cauterize
As Hercules cut off the Hydra’s heads, Iolaus cauterized the stumps with a burning torch to prevent new growth, allowing the pair to defeat the monster.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
With the outreach to contributors drawing skepticism and even outrage, the White House tried to cauterize the wound with an announcement yesterday that the 81-year-old president will sit down for an extended interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on July 5.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2024
If the tumor were excised with anything less than perfect precision, with every vessel meticulously cauterized, catastrophic bleeding into the brain could result.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
Then Musgrove fanned All-Star Freddie Freeman, again cauterizing the bleeding.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
With the outreach to contributors drawing skepticism and even outrage, the White House tried to cauterize the wound with an announcement yesterday that the 81-year-old president will sit down for an extended interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on July 5.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2024
If the tumor were excised with anything less than perfect precision, with every vessel meticulously cauterized, catastrophic bleeding into the brain could result.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
Then Musgrove fanned All-Star Freddie Freeman, again cauterizing the bleeding.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cauterize
Verb
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Other Ways To Prevent Wrinkles Most dermatologists agree that lifestyle changes are an effective way to reduce signs of skin aging.—
Carrie Madormo, RN,
Health,
4 Mar. 2025
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The venue renovations have significantly increased hospitality and premium offerings with new pubs, clubs, restaurants and seating, while reducing the number of suites from 70 to 40.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But Hackman’s character was based on a real agent who was instrumental in solving the killings, and his live-wire performance blunted the fact-checkers, turning Anderson into a progressive fantasy echo of Popeye Doyle who cherry-picked his biography to charm and smash the racists.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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Product manufacturers and retailers can help blunt the harms by restricting their use of problematic or unnecessary petrochemicals.—
Arlene Blum,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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America’s morning television brightens the day but deadens the soul.—
Joel Golby,
airmail.news,
5 Oct. 2024
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One way of deadening the mind to distractions is by blowing opponents off the court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes,
5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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And a charming atmosphere, reinforced by a warm visual language (Marc Spicer serves as DP), dulls the creepiness of those early drops.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Mar. 2025
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Contrast this with summer, where vacation mode dulls urgency, or winter, where holiday fatigue and short days can sap enthusiasm, spring hits a psychological sweet spot.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The intense criticism of the COVID response has left a lingering public distrust in health and diminished their influence.—
Tina Reed,
Axios,
10 Mar. 2025
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The seeming smallness of the story does nothing to diminish the film’s bleakness nor blunt its ultimately devastating impact.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Because both actors look like lumpish proletarian versions of Ingmar Bergman stars — Alma Pöysti, radiant yet benumbed, plays Ansa like a dish-towel Bibi Andersson, and Jussi Vatanen could be the schlump brother of Max von Sydow (with a dollop of Ryan Gosling).—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
23 May 2023
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What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment.—
Joe Morgenstern,
WSJ,
24 Jan. 2019
Verb
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Signing Verdugo now would give the Yankees one less option to fill the Stanton void and weaken their lineup even more.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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In an all-staff e-mail, Dudek wrote: Criticism, contempt, stonewalling, and defensiveness are the four forces that can end any relationship and weaken any institution. . .—
E. Tammy Kim,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cauterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterize. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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