as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
time had cauterized his bitterness, and he was willing to let bygones be bygones
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Recent Examples of cauterize
This brought to mind a discovery made by Ambroise Paré.
Paré, who lived from 1510 to 1590, worked on the battlefields of France, and was taught to cauterize gunshot wounds with boiling oil.
—
The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
All of his attempts to cut away his past, to cauterize himself and separate himself from it, would fail.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024
During this procedure, a surgeon makes a slit in the cyst and cauterize (burns the area to prevent bleeding) the edges of the incision, allowing the cyst to drain continuously.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024
As Hercules cut off the Hydra’s heads, Iolaus cauterized the stumps with a burning torch to prevent new growth, allowing the pair to defeat the monster.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
All of his attempts to cut away his past, to cauterize himself and separate himself from it, would fail.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024
During this procedure, a surgeon makes a slit in the cyst and cauterize (burns the area to prevent bleeding) the edges of the incision, allowing the cyst to drain continuously.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024
As Hercules cut off the Hydra’s heads, Iolaus cauterized the stumps with a burning torch to prevent new growth, allowing the pair to defeat the monster.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cauterize
Verb
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To reduce background noise when making phone calls or joining in with a video meeting, Headphone (1) has a 4-microphone ENC system that’s backed up by AI.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Using the current policy baseline, the CBO found that the legislation would reduce the deficit by $508 billion.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Verb
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In parallel, persistent activation of the sympathetic nervous system blunts the parasympathetic response required for arousal.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Collins is not the only Republican looking to blunt the effect of the party-line legislation on hospitals back home.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
18 May 2025
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She was shot three times at close range, with a blanket wrapped around the gun to deaden the sound.—
Christopher Goffard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Even when exhaustion dulled my vigilance, my worries didn’t disappear.—
David Litt
June 25,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2025
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The trade-off with vertical slots is that the tip of your blades will rest up against the block material and may dull over time.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2025
Verb
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But all this trouble didn’t diminish his affection.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
26 June 2025
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And the chaos does gradually diminish, like a pot of stock boiled down to a sauce.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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But in an unexpected ruling in 2023, the Supreme Court declined an invitation to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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Abandoning recognition can erode motivation, diminish engagement and make employees feel invisible, weakening the cultural fabric and undermining long-term resilience.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cauterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterize. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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