deadens

verb

present tense third-person singular of deaden
1
as in undermines
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 reduces
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 deadens Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadens
  1. undermines
  2. reduces
  3. weakens
  4. dulls
  5. exhausts
  6. numbs
  7. drains
  8. diminishes
Verb
  • Najmi’s dual role as a lawyer practicing before city judges and as chair of the screening committee creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest that undermines the very purpose of the committee’s existence.
    — Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
  • Reducing legitimate scientific disagreement to accusations of prejudice undermines that effort.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • Proper tool care reduces disease spread and keeps your lawn and garden healthier.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 22 July 2026
  • Capital tied up in escrow reduces immediate proceeds and creates tension.
    — Bhaskar Ahuja, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • That weakens the case for mediation as protection without producing a replacement, which is why Qatar will keep it rather than trade it.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • As the rest of the world buys its assets, the reserve currency is structurally overvalued and weakens competitiveness.
    — Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Fortune, 17 July 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • The 22-year-old was long considered ill-suited for grass, given how the surface dulls the athletic foundation of her game and rushes her forehand.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • In those conditions, the same technology that dulls passive learning can dramatically expand human creativity.
    — Vicki Phillips, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of dulls
Verb
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
  • If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of exhausts
Verb
  • The slime of some species also numbs an attacker’s tongue, protecting them from predators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of numbs
Verb
  • But pushing through outdoor events in 90+-degree weather drains cognitive reserves rather than replenishing them.
    — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Nutrient leaching when water drains out of containers and baskets adds to the problem.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of drains
Verb
  • Ultimately, Marx clarifies, capitalism diminishes societal wealth for every one.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Research indicates that even a single night of sleep loss significantly reduces helping behavior and diminishes activity within this vital network.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of diminishes

Browse Nearby Words

deadening
deadens
deadhead
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Cite this Entry

“Deadens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadens. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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