benumb

be·numb

transitive verb \bi-ˈnəm, bē-\

Definition of BENUMB

1

: to make inactive : deaden

2

: to make numb especially by cold

Examples of BENUMB

1. <a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief>

Origin of BENUMB

Middle English benomen, from benomen, past participle of benimen to deprive, from Old English beniman, from be- + niman to take — more at nimble

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BENUMB

Synonyms

dull, blunt, cauterize, damp, dampen, deaden, numb

Antonyms

sharpen, whet

Related Words

muffle, mute, tone (down); decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), lower, reduce, subdue; debilitate, enfeeble, weaken; dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane; alleviate, ease, lighten; abate, moderate

Near Antonyms

amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen; animate, arouse, stimulate

Rhymes with BENUMB

alum, aplomb, bass drum, bay rum, beach plum, become, degum, dim sum, dumdum, dum-dum, eardrum, far from, green thumb, hail from, ho-hum, how come, humdrum, income, in sum, outcome, pond scum, side drum, snare drum, sour gum, steel drum, subgum, succumb, sweet gum, therefrom, to come, Tom Thumb, tom-tom, wherefrom, yum-yum