DEADEN Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

deaden

verb

ˈde-dᵊn

Definition of deaden

as in to undermine

to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reduce

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a couple of aspirins deadened the headache

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 deaden Yet rather than revive Japan’s animal spirits, free money deadened them. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Without a hint of carpet or foam or anything else to deaden the sound, the stark white interior of the GT3 is a delightful acoustic overload. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 16 Mar. 2026 The evening signaled that this is not the type of show that will deaden an artist behind glass vitrines. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deaden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden

Verb

Seeking to deliberately undermine, delegitimize and destroy is not Madisonian.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
The strike has undermined the junta’s ability to provide public services.

— Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

Because the coating is already on the coil, manufacturers may be able to reduce reliance on external lubrication and additional e-coating processes.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
The goal, advocates say, was to get individuals struggling with addiction treatment while reducing overcrowding inside state prisons.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

People familiar with the deliberations said lawmakers worried the requirements would raise drug prices and weaken national security by revealing the precise locations where lifesaving medications are made.

— Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026
Macron warned that the attacks would not go unanswered and accused Moscow of trying to intimidate Europeans into weakening their support for Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Over time, that buildup can actually dull the finish and make the whole room feel less clean, even if everything else is spotless.

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026
Severe neuropathy can dull the sensation of excessive pressure, raising injury risk, and advanced lymphedema with hardened swelling calls for medical advice first.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of dull

Verb

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have become grinding contests over which side can exhaust the other’s military capacity, economic resources, and political will.

— NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026
This change responds to the numerous college athlete-plaintiffs who have exhausted their NCAA eligibility, but who seek to continue playing or return to competition.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Another pleasant fall day is ahead for Kansas City on Wednesday, but rain could dampen festival plans this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Plagued by a mismatch between supply and demand, the housing sector has helped dampen consumer confidence.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of dampen

Verb

Detectives drained three dams, searched six mineshafts and sent up drones with specialized cameras to take detailed imagery, later analyzed with artificial intelligence.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
The book leans on research about decision fatigue—the idea that even trivial choices drain the mental capacity available for harder ones—to argue that the sheer volume of daily inputs, not just their content, has a cost.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

Theirs is the paramount love story here, which works well in some ways but less so in others, somehow diminishing the stakes of their respective longing for Edward Ferrars (George MacKay) and Willoughby (Frank Dillane).

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
But people have decided to use their savings and savings is diminishing.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminish

Browse Nearby Words

deadbeats

deaden

dead-end

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Style

“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deaden

verb

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