as in reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the mushy music blunted the effect of the movie's final tragic scene
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Recent Examples of blunting
San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who sits on the water authority’s board of directors, asked officials to gather more options for blunting the impact of rate hikes.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Many shutdowns have largely played out over the weekend, blunting the impact, according to the CRFB.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
That action led the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to issue a landmark ruling in June blunting the power of judges.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
But many are now finding that geopolitics is blunting their ambitions.
—Joyce Jiang, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Other times, long rates resist or even rise, flattening the curve and blunting the Fed’s impact.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
While Sinner responded in the second set, highlighted by a backhand smash that ended a 19-shot rally and got the crowd behind him, albeit briefly, Alcaraz wasted no time blunting Sinner’s momentum in the third.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
Almost 12 million lower-income Americans would lose their health insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), blunting the significant coverage gains made under the ACA.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Many shutdowns have largely played out over the weekend, blunting the impact, according to the CRFB.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
That action led the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to issue a landmark ruling in June blunting the power of judges.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
But many are now finding that geopolitics is blunting their ambitions.
—Joyce Jiang, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Other times, long rates resist or even rise, flattening the curve and blunting the Fed’s impact.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
While Sinner responded in the second set, highlighted by a backhand smash that ended a 19-shot rally and got the crowd behind him, albeit briefly, Alcaraz wasted no time blunting Sinner’s momentum in the third.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
Almost 12 million lower-income Americans would lose their health insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), blunting the significant coverage gains made under the ACA.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunting
Verb
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Under the new terms of the license, Chevron was authorized to pay fees and royalties to Venezuela in oil but not in cash, effectively reducing Chevron’s crude exports from the country by half, according to Reuters.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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The initiative’s foundation addresses the problem of inconsistent and burdensome reporting by engaging the industry to define an optional (and non-exhaustive) questionnaire aimed at strengthening data quality and consistency while significantly reducing the administrative burden on suppliers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Long-term, alcohol damages the brain by shrinking white and gray matter, dulling rewards, and overactivating the stress system.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Warm kitchens speed up staling and fat oxidation, dulling flavors faster.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Before the night was out, Germans began chipping away at the barrier, carrying off chunks of one of the symbols of the diminishing Iron Curtain.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Business leaders say that such policies risk accelerating an exodus of companies, diminishing the city’s commercial tax base, and ultimately affecting services and jobs essential to millions of New Yorkers.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That goes even further than DESI's hints at weakening dark energy.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The central bank cut its benchmark rate for the second time this year at its most recent meeting, in part to help bolster the economy amid a weakening job market.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Mandatory overtime and stagnating wages were other factors dampening morale, which has gotten even worse now that controllers are not being paid at all.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
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Moreover, persistent uncertainty is also dampening economic activity.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunting. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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