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
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.
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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
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Before long, the living room is reduced to a bare stage, upon which only a couple of pulleys and switches are visible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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Each ergonomic Nuage seat fully reclines to improve circulation and reduce back pressure.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Researchers believe the polyphenols in prunes blunt the inflammatory pathways that drive bone loss after menopause.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
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That remains the case, Yosif said, noting that the US tapping into its strategic reserves has helped to blunt the effect of war’s oil supply crunch.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
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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
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Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Concern has grown over on whether AI will become a catalyst that enriches humanity or a technological toxin that dulls human intelligence while wiping out millions of high-paying jobs.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Freezing can dull the garlic and lemon flavors, Schwan says, so adding those ingredients back in helps the hummus taste fresh again.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
25 May 2026
Verb
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According to the alliance, the theme emphasizes the LGBTQ+ community's place in American society, calls for resistance against efforts to diminish their rights and visibility and encourages people to live openly, proudly and without apology.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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Confidence Doesn’t Require an Apology Corporate culture often reinforces self-diminishing behavior.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
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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The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely focus on the strength of private demand before factoring in the conflict, alongside inflation risks stemming from weak productivity and rising unit labor costs, according to Stenner, who expects household consumption to weaken in the second quarter.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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Critics counter that scarcity alone does not guarantee value if investor demand weakens.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cauterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterize. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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