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
  • Such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA’s governance framework and diminishes the authority of its statutory bodies.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • The new law, however, includes a provision that critics say undermines privacy and threatens individual safety.
    — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • Supporting our employees reduces burnout, improves retention, strengthens decision-making and helps ensure exceptional service for Washington County residents.
    — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For silent navigation, the Logitech Silent Wireless Mouse reduces click sounds by over 90% without sacrificing tactile feel.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Water limits visibility and weakens the effectiveness of traditional surveillance systems such as radar.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Your taste buds change at altitude Cabin pressure dulls your ability to taste salt by up to 30%, which is why airline food can taste bland and, well, terrible.
    — Cindy Dees, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of dulls
Verb
  • That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 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
  • Redesign how the job actually gets done on-site, begin with where your people spend their time and what drains it, and bring in technology to serve that work.
    — Jessica Beck, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … DIGITAL HEIST — Coldcard wallet attack drains up to $89M in Bitcoin from 1,200+ addresses.
    — , FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of drains
Verb
  • Johnson views the phrase as symbolic of a broader cultural problem, arguing that celebrating a reputation built on violence diminishes the hundreds of lives lost over the years.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But those behavior answers are rooted in action, and that diminishes the power of hope as a spiritual idea.
    — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of deadens for Spanish Speakers

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