nerf

verb

ˈnərf 

nerfed; nerfing; nerfs

transitive verb

1

informal : to reduce the effectiveness of (something, such as a character, attribute, or weapon) in a video game

It's become much easier with the last patch, because they made the bosses easier to kill by "nerfing" them …

—Duane M. George

… I'm pretty sure that her upset is really just the extremely relatable sort of gamer outrage we all feel from time to time when our favorite hobby annoys us in one way or another: A game is delayed, a weapon is nerfed, a remake just doesn't 'get it', or whatever.

—Andy Chalk

broadly : to make (something) less useful or effective

By the time I made my way back to Bing Chat a few days later, Microsoft had applied restraining bolts to its chatbot. Limiting the number of messages you can share, pulling back on its personality, and ultimately nerfing the entire experience.

—Rael Hornby

2

informal : to lightly bump (another car) in an automobile race

… I don't know if he did it on purpose or not, but when he nerfed me up out of the way about eight laps in I didn't appreciate it a whole lot.

—Ryan Newman

Examples of nerf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an attempt to nerf users who abuse dribble moves and the turbo button for less-than-realistic results, 2K23 introduces the concept of adrenaline boosts. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

of uncertain origin

Note: Perhaps simply of expressive origin; the syllable nucleus \ər\ occurs in a number of other monosyllabic expressive coinages. The verb is attested earliest in the compound nerfing bars, which were apparently first added to midget racers, as in the following: "The 'nerfing bar' is a special bumper contrivance both in the front and along the side of the racer near the rear wheels and around the tail piece. It is designed to keep rival car owners from crashing through the beautifully polished aluminum bodies, as well as to use as an offensive weapon if a slow car gets in the way" (Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News, June 17, 1941, p. 14).

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 2