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
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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
Schjerfbeck also liked the way Degas bleached his pastels to deaden their tone.
—
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.
—Arne Carlson, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Our default options provide shelter for a fraction of those who need it and at the same time deaden streets, crowd the sky, and anger neighbors.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Rather than slash and swing away after spotting the play, Stott tried to get the ball down and deaden it, increasing the level of difficulty.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.
—Arne Carlson, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Our default options provide shelter for a fraction of those who need it and at the same time deaden streets, crowd the sky, and anger neighbors.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Rather than slash and swing away after spotting the play, Stott tried to get the ball down and deaden it, increasing the level of difficulty.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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The question is whether this bill does so or instead sweeps innocent families into an overbroad administrative system that does little to improve child safety while undermining constitutional protections for parents.—
James R Mason,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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John blamed Steve for the Mac Division’s poor sales and lambasted him for undermining his authority.—
Geoffrey Cain,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Earlier that year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a sweeping climate change bill with an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and to achieve economy-wide net-zero levels by 2050.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Likewise, in building communities, there must be a priority on preserving green spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods to reduce traffic and car emissions, intentionally designating areas for wildlife habitats, and prioritizing quality of life through parks, trails, and conservation areas.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
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As consumer activity has weakened, the central bank has warned about the growing misalignment between real sentiment and headline GDP growth.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors and weaken elastic fibers, which shortens the life of garments that would otherwise hold up for years.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The researchers positioned intuitive attunement as something that gets dulled by painful experience and reclaimed through healing.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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The blades are then able to rotate freely without constantly coming into contact with debris, which can prematurely dull the edges.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The starting quarterback competition is coming down to returning players Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall, as Jalon Daniels has exhausted his eligibility and Rice transfer Chase Jenkins recovers from an injury.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
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Diplomacy, economic pressure, and international cooperation should always be exhausted first.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Take a microfiber towel dampened with a mixture of Castile soap and water to clean the remote.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
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Researchers at the Yale lab haven’t allowed the uncertainty to dampen the pace of their work.—
Shahrzad Rasekh,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Weighing in at 710 tons, the sculpture was built to circulate 30,000 gallons of water but has been drained since 2024 in order to have its inner workings assessed.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 May 2026
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Her own growth hasn’t just been paused by the demands of caring for a sick child, it’s been drained by the constant mental load that comes with it.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Successive presidential administrations have done little to diminish alcohol’s harms.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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That evolution doesn’t diminish the importance of our core business.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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