obtunding

verb

present participle of obtund
as in baffling

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtunding
  1. baffling
  2. deadening
  3. softening
  4. dampening
  5. dulling
  6. modulating
  7. cushioning
  8. buffering
Verb
  • The latest weakening of criteria is baffling if not unsurprising given the agency’s pitifully weak, unserious leadership.
    — Diana Urban, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The sequel, on the other hand, is shaped by baffling decisions from director Susanne Bier and cinematographer Simon Duggan that render the film antiseptic.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of baffling
Verb
  • Inside the cabin, extensive additional sound deadening in the doors, trunk and wheel arches means phone calls and passenger conversations are entirely effortless at highway speeds.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of deadening
Verb
  • This shot nails the mural’s vibrant colors and crisp wood-grain details, but upon close inspection, there's some noise and softening on the edges.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Medik8 Advanced Night Ceramide is a rich overnight cream that helps replenish dry skin while softening the look of crepiness, fine lines, and rough texture.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of softening
Verb
  • Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that's dampening demand for Halloween treats.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An improved suspension helped, as did the additional sound dampening made possible by its unified construction.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of dampening
Verb
  • Essentially, the toothpaste gently smooths the area around the scratch, dulling its appearance—much like a gentle polish.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Extreme weather events, such as drought or heavy rainfall, also stress trees and can trigger them to rapidly protect themselves by more rapidly pulling in the chlorophyll from their leaves, dulling fall colors.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dulling
Verb
  • Obialo silences certain layers while modulating others, nestling rhythms like honeycombs.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In March, the company bought the technology firm Uplight, which utilities can use to free up more power in the grid by subtly modulating their customers’ consumption.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of modulating
Verb
  • All in all, three different hues of light green are used throughout the colorway, which also mixes in New Balance-appropriate gray while using contrasting red elements on the shoe’s signature Abzorb SBS cushioning pods.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Using motion sensors and patented algorithms, the belt distinguishes everyday movements from a serious hip-impacting fall and deploys inflatable airbags, cushioning the hips, in less than 90 milliseconds—before the wearer hits the ground.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of cushioning
Verb
  • Research tied to the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health suggests specific brain regions may produce their own testosterone, potentially buffering against drops in blood levels.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Air pockets trapped between overlapping leaves moderate the soil temperature and slow heat transfer, buffering against the freeze-thaw cycles that heave soil, fracture plant roots and expose beneficial soil microbes to lethal cold.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of buffering
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Obtunding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtunding. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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