deadening 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of deadeningnext
as in anesthetic

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deadening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deaden
1
as in undermining
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a couple of aspirins deadened the headache

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of deadening
Verb
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 Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 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 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 Thin sound deadening The Enabling Technology prize went to CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV for a new kind of sound deadening. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025 Scrolling on one’s phone can be a deadening experience, but here’s someone feeling, or at least pretending to feel, a genuine feeling—even if the abundance of these videos surely numbs us further. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025 But the author wisely escapes the deadening simplifications of hindsight, which turn accidents into inevitabilities and potential futures into obvious dead ends. — Catherine Nicholson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Horror of this scale has the effect of deadening words, making stories of the most unimaginable violence land with a dull thud. — Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadening
  1. anesthetic
  2. undermining
  3. reducing
  4. analgesic
  5. weakening
  6. dulling
  7. anodyne
  8. exhausting
Adjective
  • Because there is a depersonalized, anesthetic quality to it.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
  • Any anesthetic product used on the toad must contain 20% benzocaine or lidocaine.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
Definition of anesthetic
Verb
  • Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Allies include Brin’s Building a Better California, which is bankrolling two counter-measures aimed at undermining the billionaire tax.
    — Ben Paviour July 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of undermining
Verb
  • The legislation reflects the complexity of the crisis, combining a total of 47 proposals aimed at increasing housing supply, reducing costs and expanding access to affordable homes.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The goal is to improve inspection quality while reducing the risks associated with labor-intensive maintenance work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Definition of reducing
Adjective
  • The compounds in kratom show promise for their analgesic properties.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
  • The classic pisco sour is unmissable, as is the island cocktail made with pisco, eucalyptus syrup, and wild murta, a local antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic berry used by indigenous communities in traditional medicine and food.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of analgesic
Verb
  • The German lender notes a growing divergence between the nation's weakening fiscal position and its thriving corporate balance sheets.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The effect results in the typical east-to-west trade winds weakening or even sometimes reversing, allowing warmer water from the western Pacific to move eastward.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • Your diplomatic touch can set kind boundaries without dulling your warmth.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
  • Blurring bamboo silk powders keep shine in check without dulling skin, while camellia seed oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E help mature complexions look smooth, hydrated, and naturally luminous.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
Definition of dulling
Adjective
  • Here, the drive experience is rather anodyne, albeit entirely acceptable for a daily driver.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
  • Venture forth, ye viewers of strong will, into a seemingly anodyne furniture store in San Jose, California, circa 1990.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2026
Definition of anodyne
Verb
  • The two young women at the center of the chamber piece that is Fruit Gathering face more challenges than hard work in a monotonous environment, including exhausting work, economic uncertainty and social repression.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • This convergence is a very encouraging sign, providing the first footprint of a structural trend change and indicating that the selling pressure from the recent rug pull is finally exhausting itself.
    — Nishant Pant, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of exhausting

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Cite this Entry

“Deadening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadening. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of deadening for Spanish Speakers

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