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
But Death Stranding 2 had already been available for over a year on the PlayStation 5 when that leak happened, somewhat blunting its overall impact.
—
Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026
Preclinical research shows long-term estrogen deprivation epigenetically silences BDNF in the hippocampus, blunting the brain’s response to exercise over time.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 2 May 2026
Iran continued to export nearly 2 million barrels of oil each day through the strait, blunting some of the supply loss, according to energy data firm Kpler.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The launches underscored continuing tensions between the Koreas, blunting South Korean hopes for warmer relations.
—CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
That one-time money would be earmarked under the legislation for blunting some of the cuts to Medicaid providers, housing and education that lawmakers are now considering.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
This means many of his supporters already have mortgages with low rates or own their homes outright, possibly blunting the importance of housing as an issue.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
But earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators worked to strike a compromise that could resurrect the enhanced ACA premium tax credits — potentially blunting the blow of rising monthly payments for Obamacare enrollees.
—Luke Garrett, NPR, 1 Jan. 2026
The shortfall stems from rising costs for the memory chips that go into computers, a jump which is blunting the benefits of a sales cycle for PCs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026
Preclinical research shows long-term estrogen deprivation epigenetically silences BDNF in the hippocampus, blunting the brain’s response to exercise over time.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 2 May 2026
Iran continued to export nearly 2 million barrels of oil each day through the strait, blunting some of the supply loss, according to energy data firm Kpler.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The launches underscored continuing tensions between the Koreas, blunting South Korean hopes for warmer relations.
—CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
That one-time money would be earmarked under the legislation for blunting some of the cuts to Medicaid providers, housing and education that lawmakers are now considering.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
This means many of his supporters already have mortgages with low rates or own their homes outright, possibly blunting the importance of housing as an issue.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
But earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators worked to strike a compromise that could resurrect the enhanced ACA premium tax credits — potentially blunting the blow of rising monthly payments for Obamacare enrollees.
—Luke Garrett, NPR, 1 Jan. 2026
The shortfall stems from rising costs for the memory chips that go into computers, a jump which is blunting the benefits of a sales cycle for PCs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunting
Verb
-
Eco effort The Pig group’s 25-mile menu keeps suppliers local, reducing food miles and packaging in the process.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Its document generation tools guide founders through complex legal processes step by step, reducing errors and ensuring completeness.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The al fresco dining area is covered with beige tents, dulling the landscape.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
1 May 2026
-
At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Wolves have not solved Wembanyama, who is significantly diminishing their inside presence.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
Some are seeking better time slots paired with digital extensions that can net them bigger contracts from TV networks desperate to break free from diminishing pay TV revenue.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
No ‘victory image’ for Tehran Ruhe similarly argued that Israel wants to avoid any agreement that restores legitimacy to the Iranian regime without fundamentally weakening it.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
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Forecasters say geomagnetic activity is gradually weakening, but lingering disturbances in Earth's magnetic field could still spark visible displays overnight, particularly in northern regions.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 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
-
Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.—
Arne Carlson,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the wake of the immigration raids last summer, many of their potential patrons refrained from hosting celebrations, dampening their business.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
One of San Francisco's busiest freeways remained shut down Saturday, creating major traffic delays and dampening business for some local restaurants and shops.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunting. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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