deaden

verb

dead·​en ˈde-dᵊn 

deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ 

ˈde-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to impair in vigor or sensation : blunt

deadened his enthusiasm

deadened the pain

2

a

: to deprive of brilliance

b

: to make vapid or spiritless

oxygen deadens wine

c

: to make (something, such as a wall) impervious to sound

3

: to deprive of life : kill

intransitive verb

: to become dead : lose life or vigor

deadener

ˈded-nər 

-dᵊn-ər

noun

deadeningly

ˈded-niŋ-lē 

-dᵊn-iŋ-

adverb

Synonyms

• castrate
• damp
• dampen
• dehydrate
• desiccate
• devitalize
• enervate
• geld
• lobotomize
• petrify

Examples of deaden in a Sentence

He took aspirin to deaden the pain.

The new insulation will help to deaden the noise from the street outside.

Recent Examples on the Web

By studying the images, engineers can confirm and enhance the sonic-boom-deadening properties for the XB-1's airframe. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025

Lightweight glass, a reduction of sound-deadening materials, and the marginally lighter 6-speed manual gearbox help the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera T Cabriolet weigh 3,505 pounds—the company's lightest manual open-roof variant. —Michael Harley, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

In times of intensifying economic inequality, when many of the jobs on offer are precarious, underpaid, and spiritually deadening, the prospect of becoming your own boss holds a lot of appeal. —Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

How the pulse deadens at the prospect. —George Caulkin, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for deaden

• leaden
• redden
• armageddon

Kids Definition

deaden

verb

dead·​en ˈded-ᵊn 

deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling : dull

deaden pain with drugs