deafen

verb

deaf·​en ˈde-fən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening ˈde-fə-niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
ˈdef-niŋ
; deafens

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf
was deafened by the explosion

Examples of deafen in a Sentence

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.
Millions if not billions of 17-year cicadas have descended on Greater Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio, creating a deafening noise and leaving behind a real mess in their wake. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship is said to be severely fractured – not because of the Duke of Sussex’s royal exit, but due to the deafening silence from his brother. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025 Inside Trump’s national-security circle, the ambiguity was deafening. Philip Elliott, Time, 23 June 2025 By the time the ballpark broke out into a cacophony of deafening white noise — as near-life-size cutouts of Mia Scott, Reese Atwood, Teagan Kavan, Leighann Goode and just about every Longhorn bounced up and down in the bleachers — many Texas Tech fans had cleared the arena. Lauren Merola, New York Times, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for deafen

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deafen was circa 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deafen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafen. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
: to make deaf
deafeningly
-(ə-)niŋ-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf

More from Merriam-Webster on deafen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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