as in anesthetic
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadening
Catherine Nicholson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
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 tires also contain a sound-deadening foam that contributes to the Optiq’s quiet cabin.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
Here was an invention no one had asked for, that promised to upend perfectly good industries while further deadening the American intellect and locking in place the political biases of post-Covid Biden-crats.
—Caroline Downey, National Review, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadening
Verb
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
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 tires also contain a sound-deadening foam that contributes to the Optiq’s quiet cabin.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
Here was an invention no one had asked for, that promised to upend perfectly good industries while further deadening the American intellect and locking in place the political biases of post-Covid Biden-crats.
—Caroline Downey, National Review, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadening
Adjective
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Part of what makes leeches so effective at blood-sucking is that their saliva has uniquely anesthetic and anticoagulant properties, so they’ve been used for thousands of years for folk medicines in Asia and Eastern Europe.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
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The suit alleges that surgeon Dare Ajibade gave Easley an excessive amount of the anesthetic lidocaine during the 6½-hour procedure and failed to recognize persistent vomiting afterward as a sign of toxicity.—
Fred Schulte,
Miami Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Trump this week deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota after this month’s fatal shootings of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, undermining Noem’s leadership of her department.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
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And election officials across the country are warning that the administration’s combative approach is making their jobs harder and undermining Americans’ faith in the electoral process.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Oatmeal specifically touts many benefits, including being a valuable source of numerous vitamins, antioxidants and fiber; moreover, studies indicate that the biochemical composition of the grain can help improve the gut microbiome in addition to reducing blood glucose levels as well.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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But since then, SpaceX too has worked on reducing the brightness of its satellites.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some studies suggest lemongrass has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
8 Dec. 2025
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The eagle is also getting anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications because birds that fly into fences often get concussions.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Protein shakes are an easy way to bridge the gap between mealtimes without dulling your appetite.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
28 Jan. 2026
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Neuropathic pain comes from damaged or irritated nerves, and gabapentin targets the nerve signaling itself rather than just dulling pain.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While the photos on the pamphlets are anodyne—cheerful workers on assembly lines—the text offers a dire warning of looming job cuts, accusing Germany’s traditional unions of selling out workers.—
William Wilkes,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Port, which is overseen by the county, issued its own anodyne statement at the time, never conceding any role in the problem.—
Sean Patrick Cooper,
Rolling Stone,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Gentry had both of those things, but he is headed to the NFL after exhausting his eligibility.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
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Productivity improvements—many already visible—are sufficient to support that level of prosperity without exhausting the planet.—
Chris Bradley,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadening. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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