deadening 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of deadeningnext
as in anesthetic

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deadening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deaden
1
as in undermining
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 reducing
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 deadening
Verb
Each presents a group portrait of a handful of disaffected British suburbanites—husbands who resent their deadening jobs, toddlers who whine and interrupt, and, above all, hassled wives subsumed by a crush of household obligations. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 Sam Lambert laid down a safety squeeze, deadening the ball in front of the plate and scoring Balls to trim the lead to 3-1. — Dave Montrose, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026 Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 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 Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025 Thin sound deadening The Enabling Technology prize went to CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV for a new kind of sound deadening. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025 Scrolling on one’s phone can be a deadening experience, but here’s someone feeling, or at least pretending to feel, a genuine feeling—even if the abundance of these videos surely numbs us further. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025 But the author wisely escapes the deadening simplifications of hindsight, which turn accidents into inevitabilities and potential futures into obvious dead ends. — Catherine Nicholson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadening
  1. anesthetic
  2. undermining
  3. reducing
  4. analgesic
  5. weakening
  6. dulling
  7. anodyne
  8. exhausting
Adjective
  • Because of their large size, giraffes are challenging to move and position appropriately for anesthetic procedures.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • Because there is a depersonalized, anesthetic quality to it.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
Definition of anesthetic
Verb
  • Cryptocurrency stolen by North Korean hackers and laundered through Chinese financial intermediaries provides funds for Pyongyang’s weapons programs, undermining international nonproliferation policy.
    — Alvin Camba, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Trump has accused the sultanate of undermining his efforts to strike a deal with Iran and end the war, which began at the end of February and are now in a stalemate.
    — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermining
Verb
  • China, too, has relied heavily on its own massive oil stockpiles, while simultaneously drastically reducing its crude imports.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • That’s the international initiative aimed at reducing the number of severe injury and fatal crashes to zero.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of reducing
Adjective
  • The compounds in kratom show promise for their analgesic properties.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
  • The classic pisco sour is unmissable, as is the island cocktail made with pisco, eucalyptus syrup, and wild murta, a local antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic berry used by indigenous communities in traditional medicine and food.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of analgesic
Verb
  • Anderson said population and labor-force declines, along with the Bay Area’s high housing costs, are weakening both the supply of workers and demand for them in many traditional industries.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than weakening the rule, the authors recommended strengthening it by passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would turn the agency regulations into federal law.
    — Dan Peck, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • To protect himself, however, Trask has created an inhibitor field that de-powers any mutant nearby, dulling Wolverine’s healing power and ferocity.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Here are the cleaning mistakes that could be dulling your hardwood floors’ shine, as well as the simple fixes to restore their finish.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of dulling
Adjective
  • At most points in American history, these would have read as pretty anodyne, even saccharine.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Here, the drive experience is rather anodyne, albeit entirely acceptable for a daily driver.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Definition of anodyne
Verb
  • Senior technology executive and business coach Leah Farmer points out that burnout isn’t always caused by overwork, and that effort without agency can be exhausting too.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After exhausting all options, including selling their car and moving in with a relative, Esma makes the painful decision to wed Zara for the dowry.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhausting

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Cite this Entry

“Deadening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadening. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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