1
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a couple of aspirins deadened the headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deaden
The cabin should be quiet thanks to the sound-deadening acoustic front and side glass.
—
Michael Harley, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Philips’ problems first surfaced publicly in June 2021, when the company warned that the noise-deadening foam lining its equipment, mostly CPAP machines, could break apart, sending potentially toxic particles and fumes into users’ throats and lungs.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 22 Nov. 2024
This can lead to more innovative solutions overall, and more importantly, avoid the formation of echo chambers that stifle creativity and deaden logical critique.
—Stephen Turban, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Her days increasingly consisted of soul-deadening meetings and consultations.
—David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Michael Harley, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Philips’ problems first surfaced publicly in June 2021, when the company warned that the noise-deadening foam lining its equipment, mostly CPAP machines, could break apart, sending potentially toxic particles and fumes into users’ throats and lungs.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 22 Nov. 2024
This can lead to more innovative solutions overall, and more importantly, avoid the formation of echo chambers that stifle creativity and deaden logical critique.
—Stephen Turban, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Her days increasingly consisted of soul-deadening meetings and consultations.
—David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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Critics are concerned Trump's latest move could allow the administration to purge nonpartisan career officials and replace them with political loyalists, undermining the independence of the federal workforce.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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The therapy also helps to reduce inflammation and promote growth of new blood vessels, the doctor added.—
Shiv Sudhakar,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The pests set about sucking the sap from grape roots, slowly weakening them and opening wounds that invited disease.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Apr. 2025
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As more state legislation is passed that weakens or eliminates longstanding fire and life safety codes, the need for young workers who are trained and passionate about reversing these trends is high.—
Jim Pauley,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The clarity might improve, but the spark—the particular cadence of someone’s thinking, the messy brilliance of their raw insight—can get dulled in translation.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The intentionally half-baked approach to Season 2 foreshadows an overstuffed and potentially controversial third season, the emotional effect of which will be dulled by the likely long hiatus (Season 1 premiered in January 2023).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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They will be exhausted after Grandma wrangling for 4 hours.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Their lineup has not exhausted opposing pitching staffs for a full series in a manner that has been their trademark for years.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Admittedly, Trump’s trade war has dampened the steady growth of the fledgling beauty brand.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Editors’ Picks How an American Sign Language Artist Spends Their Sundays The start-and-stop nature of the rollout of tariffs has also roiled the stock market and dampened consumer confidence as people have hunkered down.—
Ken Belson,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Payne drained a 3-pointer the next time down the floor to tie the game, 98-98.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2025
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However, much of this rain will eventually still drain down across the lower Mississippi River Valley, keeping the Mississippi and other nearby rivers in the region elevated for at least the next several days.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Whereas a decline in home values diminishes the equity investors might hold in their properties, which limits their ability to leverage assets for additional investments or refinancing opportunities.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, a more constrained and domestically focused healthcare agenda is likely to diminish trust in federal health agencies, limit access to culturally competent care and produce a loss of global leadership in health innovation.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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