nerf
verb & noun
to reduce the power or effectiveness of something
What does nerf mean?
To nerf something is to reduce its power or effectiveness, especially in a video game. The word can also be a noun, in which case it refers to the thing being reduced in power.
Examples of nerf
Few would argue that Cunha and Mbeumo were unnecessary additions after a Premier League record low of 44 league goals last season, but there was always a risk that moving Fernandes deeper and Amad to right wing-back would nerf what little creativity United had last term.
—Mark Critchley, The New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Tesla nerfs Autopilot in Europe due to new regulations
—yh, it nerfs her instead bcs it reduces the bond of life she has
—Riot Games has confirmed new updates for its popular 5v5 first-person tactical shooter, Valorant. Patch 5.03 is set to bring a huge nerf to the French sentinel, Chamber, and also tweaks to Neon and Jett.
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Where does nerf comes from?
The modern sense of nerf came from online gaming communities in the 1990s, when developers reduced the power of some weapons and players complained it felt like hitting each other with Nerf foam bats instead of real weapons.
How is nerf used?
Nerf is often used in gaming communities to describe changes that weaken players or facets of the game that are overpowered. The word has expanded beyond its gaming origins and is now used more broadly to describe reducing the capability or effectiveness of anything.
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