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
  • Anyone who compromises sensitive national security information puts the lives of our Warriors at risk and undermines every military operation that keeps our country safe.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • According to Ipsos, 56 percent of Americans believe sports betting undermines the integrity of the games—up 19 percentage points since 2023.
    — Josh Appel, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • The anti-immigrant movement reduces kids to constitutional hypotheticals and demographic statistics.
    — Hannah Harshe, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That gives Jaylen Warren a favorable matchup and reduces the need for Aaron Rodgers to force throws downfield.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • This molten salt weakens the coating on the silicon panel, allowing the silver wires to peel off intact as pure metal.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Don’t optimize today’s economics in a way that weakens tomorrow’s leadership pipeline.
    — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Monét sings prettily on both duets, but their conventionality dulls her shine.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Key Takeaways Airborne hydrogen sulfide dulls silver, so many pieces need regular cleaning.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of dulls
Verb
  • That pretty much exhausts the points of agreement between the pro- and anti-Proposition 40 camps.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of occupying both sides with large cooling vents, air enters toward the front of the station and exhausts through the rear.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 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
  • The weak low-end response drains some instruments of their heft.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Constantly saying 'yes' to everything and everyone drains us of time and energy.
    — Margaret Cirino, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of drains
Verb
  • For Republicans, a lot rides on whether Tuesday’s balloting substantially diminishes their ranks.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Splitting such communities into multiple districts diminishes their representation in the democratic process.
    — Dan Lipinski, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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