1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a couple of aspirins deadened the headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deaden
Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.
—
Arne Carlson, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Our default options provide shelter for a fraction of those who need it and at the same time deaden streets, crowd the sky, and anger neighbors.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Rather than slash and swing away after spotting the play, Stott tried to get the ball down and deaden it, increasing the level of difficulty.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Arne Carlson, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Our default options provide shelter for a fraction of those who need it and at the same time deaden streets, crowd the sky, and anger neighbors.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Rather than slash and swing away after spotting the play, Stott tried to get the ball down and deaden it, increasing the level of difficulty.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The thinking, according to airport officials, is to encourage riders to use the yet-to-open Automated People Mover, also known as Skylink, and to reduce vehicle traffic around the terminals.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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From the guest's POV, drinking water is provided in reusable glass bottles, with water refilling stations across the property, and restaurant ingredients are sourced from the nearby partner South Farm and local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint and support the community.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And then the steakhouse’s growth spurt dulled.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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Despite running a mere 94 minutes, the film’s multiple threads are presented in a manner so outstretched their totality becomes dulled, as the inherent allure of the saga at large gradually wanes in energy.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As all of these bankruptcy cases illustrate, litigation is one of the most common drivers for association bankruptcies, and much like foreclosures, it should only be considered when all other reasonable options have been exhausted.—
Awilda Esteras,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
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Barely a minute or two ticked away at Galen Center last month,but USC freshman Alijah Arenas already was exhausted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your basic latex makeup wedges, dampened and rubbed against the stain.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
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Board members argued such a facility would strain water and sewer capacity, harm the area’s quality of life and dampen tourism.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials say a goal of the attacks is to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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If your plant is struggling, adjusting your watering schedule or repotting in fresh, well-draining soil will likely make a bigger difference.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a decade of dramatic growth, homelessness programs now face a period of diminishing resources.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Advocates say that level of disenrollment will sharply diminish the state’s health care system as a whole, by robbing hospitals and clinics of revenue.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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