benumb

verb

bi-ˈnəm How to pronounce benumb (audio)
Definition of benumbnext
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 benumb 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
  1. reduce
  2. dull
  3. blunt
  4. numb
  5. diminish
  6. weaken
  7. deaden
  8. subside
Verb
  • Slickwater uses a mix of water, sand, and thin, friction-reducing chemicals rather than thicker gels to shatter dense shale rock deep underground and free the gas.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Choudri told the board during the hearing that the agency had adopted measures to reduce consultant costs.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • But perpetually hunting in the same locale can dull the shimmer.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Monét sings prettily on both duets, but their conventionality dulls her shine.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • The opinion blunts a major attack line Democrats have used, especially against Moody and Uthmeier.
    — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The tension of Noah’s character, which Lanterns presents as a parallel to John’s, is immediately blunted by the show’s need to soften and resolve everything left uncertain in John’s.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of blunt
Verb
  • But the sailors were too numbed with the cold to attempt going forward to secure it.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Who would’ve thought, for example, that Wallace was constantly hiding behind the lens of his trusty camera as a way to numb himself to the horrors of the world?
    — Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of numb
Verb
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but that rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The culture surrounding the use of alcohol has diminished in younger generations, at least anecdotally, Haddock said.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Inside the cabin, extensive additional sound deadening in the doors, trunk and wheel arches means phone calls and passenger conversations are entirely effortless at highway speeds.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Too much intention, too much Trying to Say, too much overarching metaphor, can deaden your work.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of deaden
Verb
  • Less than a day after that subsided, a second eruption followed.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • International outrage over the carnage in Gaza, meanwhile, has largely subsided, with many countries preferring a failing peace process to none at all.
    — KHALED ELGINDY, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of subside

Browse Nearby Words

bents
benumb
benumbed
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Cite this Entry

“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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