deadened 1 of 2

adjective

as in anesthetized

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deadened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of deaden
1
as in undermined
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a couple of aspirins deadened the headache

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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 deadened
Verb
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 Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either. — Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadened
  1. anesthetized
  2. undermined
  3. reduced
  4. drugged
  5. weakened
  6. dulled
  7. stupefied
  8. exhausted
Adjective
  • Direct evidence on the mole-rat brain response to isopropyl myristate came from functional ultrasound imaging, a technique that tracks blood flow non-invasively in an anesthetized animal.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
  • Future research could help clinicians guide the anesthetized brain toward a sleep-like state, rather than a coma-like one.
    — Lucy Nemchek, Hartford Courant, 15 May 2026
Definition of anesthetized
Verb
  • China’s domestic car market is under pressure from intense competition and price wars, while the slowing economy has undermined consumer confidence.
    — Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, OutKick explained how Magnus undermined his own edict and vision by hiring back Stan Verrett to host a throwaway show on NFL Network.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of undermined
Verb
  • Brent crude oil prices paused in early trading on Tuesday after gaining in the previous session following a drone attack on an oil pipeline pumping station in Russia that reduced flows from Kazakhstan.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Promise a rebate to every taxpayer when the size and cost of government is reduced.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of reduced
Adjective
  • His record includes work concerning drunk and drugged driving, criminal sentencing, public safety, the rights of victims and the administration of the courts.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Joel Sicon Porix, who was part of a road repair crew, was killed Monday when an allegedly drugged driver barreled onto the sidewalk in Nesconset.
    — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drugged
Verb
  • Economic data for July showed retail sales and urban investment both weakened, adding to pressure on Beijing to step up support for the remainder of the year.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This view suggests that the sense of shame was collectively weakened by a series of self-interested actors who shattered the social firmament and opened up the gates to chaos.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • The sparkle in her eyes had dulled and her smile seemed forced.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Decades of scrolling have dulled our senses somewhat; this is inevitable.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dulled
Adjective
  • Certain men have reportedly watched CCTV footage of their stupefied selves inexplicably helping their robbers gut their apartments of possessions.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The man hugged a bag, the woman shouted and flailed her arms, and the young teenage boy pulled at his sister, who seemed stupefied.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
Definition of stupefied
Verb
  • Once the appeals process is exhausted, the court's certification is sent to the State Department, along with court records.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But their first-choice XI last season was good enough to take on most in the Premier League when fit and not be exhausted by a Conference League-winning campaign.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of exhausted

Browse Nearby Words

dead ends
deadened
deadening
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Cite this Entry

“Deadened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadened. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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