BLUNTING Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

blunting

verb

present participle of blunt

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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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 blunting The law is aimed at blunting financial scams that often target older adults, which frequently include prompting victims to withdraw large sums of money at once. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026 Semaglutide can hook into this system, blunting the usual pleasure from eating high-fat and sugary treats. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Greg Jaffe and Kate Kelly Politicians and officials in Mexico are using the country’s laws to intimidate critics and the media, forcing them into censorship and blunting scrutiny. — Kate Kelly Vincent Alban Paulina Villegas Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 21 June 2026 The body adapts to the daily dose, blunting caffeine’s impact on blood pressure, mental alertness and exercise performance. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026 Quality drops around menstruation as estrogen and progesterone fall, blunting melatonin and cortisol rhythms. — Allison Palmer updated June 13, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026 Simple steps like version pinning or requiring a cool-down period before new library releases are available to developers can go a very long way toward blunting the supply chain attacks that are about to become far more common. — Philip Martin, Fortune, 29 May 2026 South Africa’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three years, in effect blunting a $1 billion fuel relief package designed to soften the blow of surging oil prices. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 May 2026 But Ukraine claims that a new generation of interceptors is blunting the impact of Russian attacks on its cities. — Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunting

Verb

China, too, has relied heavily on its own massive oil stockpiles, while simultaneously drastically reducing its crude imports.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
That’s the international initiative aimed at reducing the number of severe injury and fatal crashes to zero.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

To protect himself, however, Trask has created an inhibitor field that de-powers any mutant nearby, dulling Wolverine’s healing power and ferocity.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Here are the cleaning mistakes that could be dulling your hardwood floors’ shine, as well as the simple fixes to restore their finish.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dulling

Verb

In the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, France's initial mediating role gave way to a pro-Armenia stance, alienating Baku and diminishing its leverage with Yerevan, which now increasingly favors the US.

— Kamran Bokhari, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
During Anahulu Ho Emi, the third and final phase, the focus is diminishing, surrendering and reflecting.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

Anderson said population and labor-force declines, along with the Bay Area’s high housing costs, are weakening both the supply of workers and demand for them in many traditional industries.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Rather than weakening the rule, the authors recommended strengthening it by passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would turn the agency regulations into federal law.

— Dan Peck, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

Each presents a group portrait of a handful of disaffected British suburbanites—husbands who resent their deadening jobs, toddlers who whine and interrupt, and, above all, hassled wives subsumed by a crush of household obligations.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Sam Lambert laid down a safety squeeze, deadening the ball in front of the plate and scoring Balls to trim the lead to 3-1.

— Dave Montrose, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026

Definition of deadening

Verb

But both parties have violated the terms of the deal throughout the two-month period, dampening hopes that the tenuous truce would lead to a more concrete agreement to end the conflict.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026
More important than these dynamics in dampening the oil crisis that might have ensued was past government investment in infrastructure.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dampening

Browse Nearby Words

blunted

blunting

bluntly

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“Blunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunting. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of blunting

verb

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