deaden

verb

dead·​en ˈde-dᵊn How to pronounce deaden (audio)
deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ How to pronounce deaden (audio)
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 How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-dᵊn-ər
noun
deadeningly
ˈded-niŋ-lē How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-dᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

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 Simplicity, understood like this, is complexity well tended, just as a long, graceful line is a collection of stubby ones, tamed but not deadened. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 And the shine from his latest gold medal hasn’t come close to deadening. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 Things like that might deaden your palate before your tasting. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 24 Sep. 2024 Another method Tyler has had success with is using hearing aids not to amplify sound but to deaden it. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for deaden 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deaden.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deaden was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near deaden

Cite this Entry

“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaden. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

deaden

verb
dead·​en ˈded-ᵊn How to pronounce deaden (audio)
deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling : dull
deaden pain with drugs

More from Merriam-Webster on deaden

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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