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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cauterize
In making a film about the past set in the present, Saint-Martin formulates an indictment on his country’s unhealed wounds, which rather than cauterize with time, remain open since the festering corruption and abuse of power that obscured the truth around the students’ deaths, remains in place.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 Nov. 2025
In an effort to cauterize the conflict, which has been festering for the better part of a decade, Bessent said Trump plans to visit Xi in Beijing in early 2026, while the Chinese president is slated to attend the G20 Summit in Florida at one of Trump’s properties next December.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
When Amy Adams’ Lois Lane is wounded in the Arctic while working on a story, the ever-ready hero emerges from nowhere, ready to cauterize her wound with his X-ray eyes.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 July 2025
In many cases, the trainee then made the incision, cauterized blood vessels to prevent blood loss, and positioned clamps to expose the organ or area of interest.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 Nov. 2025
In an effort to cauterize the conflict, which has been festering for the better part of a decade, Bessent said Trump plans to visit Xi in Beijing in early 2026, while the Chinese president is slated to attend the G20 Summit in Florida at one of Trump’s properties next December.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
When Amy Adams’ Lois Lane is wounded in the Arctic while working on a story, the ever-ready hero emerges from nowhere, ready to cauterize her wound with his X-ray eyes.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 July 2025
In many cases, the trainee then made the incision, cauterized blood vessels to prevent blood loss, and positioned clamps to expose the organ or area of interest.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for cauterize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cauterize
Verb
-
Connecticut’s Climate Progress report, required every three years by the state legislature, shows how Connecticut is continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Companies are taking steps to reduce their plastic consumption, according to Melissa Bastos, Cotton Incorporated director of corporate strategy and insights.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Queta dominated this same 76ers team back in March (27 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks), but fouling issues have blunted his impact so far in this series.—
Zack Cox,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Matriarchy is a force that protects and defends, a force blunted and downgraded at every turn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because Uncle Sam has dulled the economic incentive to create the next breakthrough.—
Elaine Parker,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But if the entire area was ceded back to the District of Columbia, the electoral advantage in the new districts would be dulled and new districts would be drawn in light of the state’s shrunken footprint.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Israel has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese government for not doing enough to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cauterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterize. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
