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

Relevance

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

In the air war, the Houthis have taken aim at Saudi Arabia's oil facilities near its border with Yemen, accusing the Saudis of arming Yemeni government forces as a way of undermining Yemen's sovereignty.

— Guy Davies, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Poor change management, configuration drift and unmanaged systems quietly undermine cybersecurity.

— Scott Alldridge, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Advanced transmission technologies can reduce those losses and increase existing network capacity without requiring entirely new lines.

— Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Dairy cows are producing less milk and birthing fewer or weakened calves.

— Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Though Hurricane Marie continues to weaken in the southern Pacific Ocean — and is expected to remain hundreds of miles off the Southern California coastline — the region can still expect to feel some effects from the storm over the next few days.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Detergent, minerals, and everyday grime can cling to the fibers, creating a film that dulls their appearance.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
Abrasive sponges and cleaners can leave tiny marks behind that will dull and damage the surface over time.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of dull

Verb

Lucie, having exhausted all other possibilities, and needing Darnay in order to find her father, hires a very reluctant Carton, who in a trick worthy of Perry Mason, gets him off when a witness cannot tell him and Darnay apart.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Last month, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the US military had exhausted nearly 80% of its interceptors for a key missile defense system.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

However, El Niño and marine heat waves can change the timing or force of the winds, potentially dampening coastal upwelling and reducing the availability of food for sea life along the coast.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The contrast with Arsenal, a picture of stability, has dampened hopes of anything even remotely resembling a title race.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of dampen

Verb

As a young man, Francisco traversed it on horseback, eking out a living by draining resin from the towering pines.

— Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Management voluntarily closed the store until a three-compartment sink could be fixed to drain properly.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

Foreign central banks and other institutions looking for a safe place to park their capital have diminished roles in the Treasury market and have increasingly turned to alternative havens like gold.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
These stabs at earnestness do nothing to diminish the feeling of the concert film being little more than a cash grab.

— Elena Lazic, Variety, 5 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 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deaden

verb

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