as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief
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Recent Examples of benumb
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
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
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 May 2023
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
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benumb
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the pace of change brought about by AI threatens to dull these capabilities, just when they are needed most.—
Bob Sternfels,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
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As long as the economy stays strong, businesses and policymakers will respond with incremental changes that dull the pain but fail to address the cause.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fasting can blunt performance, particularly during explosive or high-volume workouts, Lucas warned.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Jan. 2026
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By investing in optics, tech companies may blunt some of that backlash.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This month asks you to sit in the confusion and uncertainty without numbing it or outsourcing your clarity to someone else’s gut instinct.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Jan. 2026
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Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is added to lidocaine and other dental numbing solutions to shrink blood vessels, reduce bleeding and prolong numbness.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If the property owners are forced to cancel pending bookings and remove their listings from third-party services such as Airbnb, the lawsuit claims, their property values, along with potential rental income returns, are diminished.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
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This game did little to diminish his projection as the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When leaders visibly adjust decisions based on input, silence weakens.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Wet wipes contain alcohol and chemicals that strip natural oils, damage materials like leather, and weaken shoe adhesives.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Schjerfbeck also liked the way Degas bleached his pastels to deaden their tone.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
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Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.—
Arne Carlson,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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These findings have prompted the development of interventions designed to create time and space between an individual’s suicidal impulse and access to firearms, allowing acute urges to subside.—
Russell Lemle,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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