as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief
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Recent Examples of benumb
Because both actors look like lumpish proletarian versions of Ingmar Bergman stars — Alma Pöysti, radiant yet benumbed, plays Ansa like a dish-towel Bibi Andersson, and Jussi Vatanen could be the schlump brother of Max von Sydow (with a dollop of Ryan Gosling).
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 May 2023
What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 May 2023
What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benumb
Verb
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Onboarding can be personalized based on the team and role, helping people get productive faster and reducing the need for additional training.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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This means targeted improvements could significantly reduce overall pollution without an industry-wide overhaul.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Topping it with butter or sugary spreads will also dull any potential benefits.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Instead of softener, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to naturally soften towels and remove detergent residue without dulling the color.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Her election may also blunt the rise of Sanseito, a right-wing populist party that surged in July on an anti-immigration platform.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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However, the effects on hiring may be blunted by persistent weakness in the labor market.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once numbing kicks in, most patients describe the day as straightforward.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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The pins went through the scalp and were docked on the surface of her skull with numbing cream.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their patches of habitat and their water sources are diminishing; their feeding timeline has grown increasingly erratic, and more barricades are being built all the time, limiting their freedom of movement.—
Ganesh Marín,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
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And another sign the perception is of a Panthers team diminished.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But with her coalition prospects in doubt, and the party weakened by scandal and voter frustration, her route to Japan’s top job is far from assured.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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Studies have found that, in some instances, background noise can weaken territorial responses in males.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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There was some concern about Mayfield’s status for the Bucs’ Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, but those worries were likely subsided after Mayfield was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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The annexation question appeared to subside for a time afterwards.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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