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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cauterize
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
To stop the bleeding, a doctor, who had no access to antiseptic or anesthesia, heated the blade of a kitchen knife and cauterized the wound.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cauterize 
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
To stop the bleeding, a doctor, who had no access to antiseptic or anesthesia, heated the blade of a kitchen knife and cauterized the wound.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cauterize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cauterize
Verb
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Trump, who took office on January 20, campaigned heavily on the economy, vowing to reduce inflation and impose tariffs on some of the country's closest trading partners like Mexico and Canada, citing concerns over drugs, immigration, and trade deficits.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
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Introduced late in the first decade of the 2000s, the program was revived in 2022 as part of a series of insurance reforms that aimed to reduce litigation — and insurance company failures.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Transatlantic unity The war in Ukraine has foreclosed on options and blunted Russian action around the world.—
Ronald H. Linden,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2025
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On that cool November day, the jail staff interrupted that downward cycle, offering Santiago a medication that would blunt his opioid cravings and drastically improve his chances of staying sober, staying alive.—
Ethan Varian,
The Mercury News,
6 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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Unlike opioid medications, which dull the sensation of pain in the brain, suzetrigine works by preventing pain-signaling nerves around the body from firing in the first place.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
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She was floated as a possible running mate for Trump before a controversial anecdote from her memoir appeared to dull her chances.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Although his output had diminished, from an availability and form perspective, Villa valued him higher than Douglas Luiz or Diaby and with greater scope for improvement.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
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This has less to do with a diminishing talent pool than a changing industry where the lines between Corman’s world and Hollywood at large became more sharply drawn.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 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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In the bond market, Treasury yields fell after a report said sales at U.S. retailers weakened by much more last month than economists expected.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
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His executive order, unless reversed by the courts, will encourage greater corruption in Latin America, hurting the region’s economies, weakening democratic institutions and making countries poorer.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near cauterize
Cite this Entry
“Cauterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterize. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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