as in reducing
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cauterizing
Verb
-
While it is known that close contact with others can increase the transmission of certain viruses, the study highlights in greater detail how improving classroom ventilation could have notable impacts in reducing transmission.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025 -
Eventually, this mine’s successful operation will substantially increase China’s domestic supply capacity, simultaneously reducing its reliance on imports from other countries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The body adapts to the daily dose, blunting caffeine’s impact on blood pressure, mental alertness and exercise performance.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
Quality drops around menstruation as estrogen and progesterone fall, blunting melatonin and cortisol rhythms.—
Allison Palmer
June 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
At some point, the bracket creep is going to overreach into the point of diminishing marginal returns — dulling regular seasons and perhaps ultimately even eventually interest in the postseasons.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
-
The al fresco dining area is covered with beige tents, dulling the landscape.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
In past years, Maplewood has added noise-deadening baffles and a sound-deflecting berm to the site.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
11 May 2026
-
The idea was to merge international modernism with local conditions and traditions as a way to resist the deadening mantle of sameness that was sweeping the industrialized world and many developing countries, too.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once the scene resurfaced online some ten years later, internet users leveraged the phrase as a way to distinguish those who were musically superior (who had the range) and those who were not, diminishing them regardless of their popularity.—
Dr. Marcus Collins,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Trooping the Colour is one of the most important events in the royal calendar with the King and Queen at its center, flanked by the Wales family and supported by an ever-diminishing group of senior working royals.—
Katie Nicholl,
Vanity Fair,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Yet the extremist group has mobilized its members and media outlets to ramp up criticism of the agreement, heaping pressure on Iranian negotiators who have been attempting to extract concessions from a US administration intent on weakening – and possibly ending – the Islamic Republic.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until the 2019-2022 term of then President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized for weakening environmental protections.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
On the spicy side, there were plenty of fragrant, tingly, numbing málà peppers.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
-
As, too, are road signs, which serve as warm reminders of important people and help soothe souls in mind-numbing traffic.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cauterizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cauterizing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
