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

Relevance

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 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 Yet rather than revive Japan’s animal spirits, free money deadened them. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Without a hint of carpet or foam or anything else to deaden the sound, the stark white interior of the GT3 is a delightful acoustic overload. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 16 Mar. 2026 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
  • Fox News Digital asked Martin whether that level of support undermined Ireland's neutrality.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Brazil’s attorney general last week accused the US of undermining Brazilian democracy — a central theme for incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who holds a razor-thin polling lead over Flávio Bolsonaro.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • This allows Vestas to standardize its construction processes, lower costs, and reduce defects.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and turned soil into the first terrestrial carbon sinks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Fink said the churn weakens the tie between a worker and an employer.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other potential causes are higher rates of chronic stress, depression and anxiety, as well as autoimmune diseases, which weaken the immune system, Curhan said.
    — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • None of this ever accumulates much weight, however, since the conflicts are all dulled by the one-note absurdity of the farcical plotting.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Eyesafe technology cuts blue light without dulling the color, which is easier on your eyes during long work days.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • Unsurprisingly, Chinese researchers have predicted that the main urban pension fund covering some 500 million urban workers, retirees, and cadres will be exhausted by the mid-2030s.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In June, the NCAA ruled the class of 2022 had exhausted their eligibility.
    — PJ Green October 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Nor did arriving in the United States dampen many Italians’ enthusiasm for anarchism.
    — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Presenhuber added that economic crises and global politics seem continue to dampen her clients’ moods overall—and their spending.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dampen
Verb
  • Shawn and his father found the man on the easternmost coast of their island shortly after dusk, when the sky was drained of almost all its orange light and the waves had grown dark, topped with an eerie froth.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The road Game 3 win reigns supreme in Liberty lore after Sabrina Ionescu drained a 28-foot game-winning dagger.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • When every decision requires multiple levels of authorization, ownership naturally diminishes.
    — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And where does the water come from for these 10 new cities as the West scrambles for what’s left of diminishing supplies?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish

Browse Nearby Words

deadbeats
deaden
dead-end
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Luddite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All