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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To reduce the risk of mosquito bites and West Nile virus, health officials recommend using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito activity at dawn and dusk.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
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Autos Are an Economic Anchor China’s bold move into electric vehicles began in 2009 as a top-down policy to compete with foreign automakers, cut air pollution and reduce oil imports.—
Rebecca A. Fannin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Together, these ingredients create a gentle, yet powerful, solution that restores shine to stainless steel without dulling its finish.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, however, his Midas touch on the charts has dulled slightly, and his last two sets — 2023’s – (Minus) and 2024’s Autumn Variations — missed the top spot, while failing to generate the long-lasting hit singles his earlier albums had easily spun off.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Pharmaceutical products The new 100% tariff on pharmaceutical imports appears to make several notable exemptions, which could blunt its impact on many of the drugs Americans are most familiar with and use most frequently.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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But Kemp's remarks about his competitors are unlikely to generate any goodwill in the launch industry and may blunt support for Astra's rejuvenation.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a garnish, a grapefruit peel, adding a slightly numbing textured bitterness to the experience, ties the whole thing together.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
27 Sep. 2025
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At the urgent care unit, the area was numbed and a small incision was made.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zeldin’s cuts have diminished the EPA’s staffing levels, even before Congress has had a chance to weigh in, affecting the environment, public health and government transparency.—
Chris Sellers,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
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Though the region’s trade reliance on Washington has rapidly diminished as China has become its biggest market, several nations still rely on the US for a large share of their exports, the loss of which would put millions of livelihoods at risk.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And, in the process, weakening the ability of American tech companies, many of them based in California, to achieve their goals.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
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Winds will continue to weaken later in the afternoon, while flooding across the high terrain in the Central Azores is also expected to subside.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The big number arrives, characters emote, high notes ring and ring and ring again … and the aria subsides unmemorably, without leaving the ozone tang that signals a bolt of musical lightning.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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Herro received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections in hopes of avoiding surgery, but the discomfort never subsided and surgery was deemed necessary to avoid more issues down the road.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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