deaden

verb

ˈde-dᵊn How to pronounce deaden (audio)
Definition of deadennext
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

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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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
  1. undermine
  2. reduce
  3. weaken
  4. dull
  5. exhaust
  6. dampen
  7. drain
  8. diminish
Verb
  • This approach would hide the true impact on taxpayers, undermine Senate rules against increasing deficits, and further harm the U.S. fiscal position.
    — Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Make no mistake—undermining our basic freedoms and pulling funding from schools will not address the real problem of antisemitism and will certainly not help students receive an education.
    — Maggie Siddiqi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • These layoffs reduced staffing at some local weather forecast offices to threadbare levels, causing some to reduce their services.
    — Andrew Freedman, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Although reducing the property tax burden could provide significant benefits to business owners and homeowners, there’s no guarantee that landlords would pass those savings on to their tenants.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • 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
  • Consumers are already losing confidence and pulling back on spending, weakening a key engine of the economy.
    — Axios, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of dull
Verb
  • Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.
    — Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The victim must be at least 65 years old, may be in danger due to health or suspicious reasons and the investigating agency has exhausted all its resources.
    — Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Yet in one moment of candor, Mullin said the rollercoaster style of governance that has defined the House over the last couple of years, with narrow margins fostering dysfunction for the GOP, has been enough to dampen his love for the chamber.
    — David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
  • That could dampen economic growth and hamstring efforts to develop data centers for artificial intelligence, a priority of the Trump administration.
    — Michael Copley, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of dampen
Verb
  • The iOS app optimized can over 12 hours a day without draining the battery, TwinMind says.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Without Caitlin Clark draining 3-pointers from the logo, or an undefeated South Carolina trying to remain perfect, there is no nationally captivating figure that commands the audience.
    — Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of drain
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of diminish

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“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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