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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025 She was shot three times at close range, with a blanket wrapped around the gun to deaden the sound. Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025 Here was an invention no one had asked for, that promised to upend perfectly good industries while further deadening the American intellect and locking in place the political biases of post-Covid Biden-crats. Caroline Downey, National Review, 27 Mar. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for deaden

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaden. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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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