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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Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
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But government hunting programs and other efforts to reduce their numbers as the human population grew led to the local extinction, or extirpation, of the animals from California more than a century ago.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After a debut season as shocking and raw as Aunt Lydia’s aforementioned act of discipline, Bruce Miller’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel drifted into repetitious patterns with a familiarity that dulled their impact.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
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And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.—
Jeff Amy,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For now, some of those near-term increases have been blunted some by Americans’ tax refunds; however, that’s not an endless well.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Iran war disrupts daily life The Iran war is disrupting daily life around the world as governments take action to blunt the impact of the energy crisis.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the book, Bunnie describes turning to pills, cocaine and alcohol to escape reality and numb the effects of trauma from her upbringing.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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Minimal downtime, no numbing required, and results build over time.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Panini currently holds licenses for those four federations, continuing the ongoing trend of Fanatics winning licenses, which diminishes Panini’s portfolio.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Competing Colors One painting mistake that will diminish the appearance of even the nicest new kitchen is not thoughtfully considering how your cabinet or wall color will coordinate with other elements in the room.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hungary is a major importer of Russian energy and the sanctions would have impacted the country's already weakening economy.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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But instead, the resolution was further weakened to eliminate any reference to Security Council authorization — which is an order for action — and limit its provisions to the Strait of Hormuz.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tony Buxton, a climate and energy attorney at a legal and lobbying firm in Maine, told the WSJ that opposition to AI data centers in the state is unlikely to subside.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
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Efstathopoulos expects the speech to further fuel the risk-off sentiment as investors wait for uncertainty to subside.—
Anniek Bao,Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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