1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of deaden
Horror of this scale has the effect of deadening words, making stories of the most unimaginable violence land with a dull thud.
—
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
The Finnish midfielder deadened the ball with a foot and quickly chipped it laterally over nearby defenders.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
The Finnish midfielder deadened the ball with a foot and quickly chipped it laterally over nearby defenders.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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Nigeria’s Federal Revenue Service, whose boss Zacc Adedeji made the case for the tax, argued that local oil refineries are operating at cost levels that exceed those of fuel importers, a risk that could undermine the refining sector.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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The resumption of nuclear weapons testing by the United States will undermine national security, arms control advocates told .—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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October has seen 93 blank sailings, up from 58 in September, according to data from maritime research firm Drewry, with container capacity reduced by roughly 7 percent month over month.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
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By cutting the cost and complexity of closings, the company hopes to expand access to homeownership, reduce fraud, and help smaller regional title firms compete with national giants.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, leaving grass too long over the winter can shade the soil and weaken the grass.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In addition to the GOP leaders, most rank-and-file Senate Republicans also oppose repealing the filibuster that’s been slowly weakened by both parties in recent decades for Executive Branch and judicial nominees.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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None of that dulls the original game, nor its portrayal of Alma.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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Warm kitchens speed up staling and fat oxidation, dulling flavors faster.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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However, the players named in the probe have already exhausted their eligibility.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Someone else knew buyers who were optimistic that a Mamdani win might finally be the thing to dampen the Brooklyn townhouse market.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This big snaking thing is dipped into the pool, and starts draining it from everyone else.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2025
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The following weeks were emotionally draining.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Adopting China’s position in this way would be a blunder, diminishing Taiwan’s resolve to resist Chinese aggression and coercion.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
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Social media feeds can lead people toward the dark side with negative content or content that can diminish self-esteem.—
NPR,
NPR,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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