BENUMB Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

benumb

verb

bi-ˈnəm

Definition of benumb

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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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

Verb

Studies show that drinking more fluid—preferably water—can significantly reduce the risk of stone formation and recurrence.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
The White Worm, who styled herself as a peacetime consigliere, is reduced to obsolescence by the promise of all-out war.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Abrasive scrubbers can dull protective and glossy topcoats and strip oils from wood, so use something with milder scrubbing power.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of dull

Verb

Earlier this month, the Democratic Party’s centrist wing announced a $15 million campaign through Third Way to blunt socialists’ influence in the party.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026
And that success blunts the effectiveness of what the Iranians are trying to do at the Strait of Hormuz.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of blunt

Verb

Within days, the video would be seen worldwide—the first of a numbing number of such recordings that would surface over the next decades.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Damon’s Odysseus is numbed by the massacre of Troy’s civilians; Fiennes’ hates himself for leading the best men of Ithaca to their death, gutting his own community in the heedless destruction of another.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of numb

Verb

Instead, the fresh requirements appeared to diminish prospects for a quick deal, despite optimism last week an agreement was near.

— Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
But they’ve never been litigated — and the developments are already stoking fears of diminishing Fed independence as the central bank weighs whether to raise interest rates at its next meeting.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

However, consuming large amounts—such as those used in studies where up to 1/2 cup was consumed daily—can start to weaken and damage tooth enamel.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
Apple’s market dominance is built around September; moving away from tradition would upset the ecosystem supporting the launch and risk weakening the iPhone’s dominant position.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

And even though access to such banalities may sound brain-deadening, and at best dull, some of the most famous people in the world are now live-streamers.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Freezes caused by large cold fronts pushing into the state from arctic regions can ice over and deaden fruitful citrus trees.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026

Definition of deaden

Verb

That said, living in the South means there’s still a ways to go before the heat subsides, and until then, breathable summer staples will continue to define my outfits.

— Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026
While the rain is expected to mostly subside by Saturday, temperatures will hover near the 90s through Sunday and into next week.

— Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of subside

Browse Nearby Words

bents

benumb

benumbed

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“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of benumb

verb

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