deafening

1 of 2

adjective

deaf·​en·​ing ˈde-fə-niŋ How to pronounce deafening (audio)
ˈdef-niŋ
1
: that deafens : that causes someone or something to become deaf
2
: very loud : earsplitting
fell with a deafening clap
3
sometimes offensive : very noticeable
Their silence on the issue was deafening.
deafeningly adverb

deafening

2 of 2

present participle of deafen

Synonyms of deafening

Examples of deafening in a Sentence

Adjective the deafening roar of the planes a boom box blasting deafening music
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
But the film’s eventual record-breaking success was a deafening rebuttal from his loyal fanbase. Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025 Those calls will only become more deafening unless the Mavs start winning games in bunches. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 That was the sound of Blackwell’s game-deciding block, followed by the deafening final eruption from the stands of Allegiant Stadium. Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 And now that Survivor 50 has already been cast and filmed, that drumbeat is almost deafening. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deafening

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of deafening was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Deafening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafening. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on deafening

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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