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 of deaden

• undermine
• weaken
• exhaust
• dampen
• drain
• enervate

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

Sam Lambert laid down a safety squeeze, deadening the ball in front of the plate and scoring Balls to trim the lead to 3-1. —Dave Montrose, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026

Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026

Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. —John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, 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