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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a couple of aspirins deadened the headache
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deaden
Without a hint of carpet or foam or anything else to deaden the sound, the stark white interior of the GT3 is a delightful acoustic overload.
—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
16 Mar. 2026
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
The evening signaled that this is not the type of show that will deaden an artist behind glass vitrines.
—
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Considerable resources were devoted to acoustics that deaden the train noise from the outside.
—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
16 Mar. 2026
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
The evening signaled that this is not the type of show that will deaden an artist behind glass vitrines.
—
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Considerable resources were devoted to acoustics that deaden the train noise from the outside.
—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden
Verb
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Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized.
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Allies include Brin’s Building a Better California, which is bankrolling two counter-measures aimed at undermining the billionaire tax.
Verb
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Derived from a Central African shrub, the drug's ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings were uncovered by accident, when Howard Lotsof, a 19-year old addicted to heroin, tried ibogaine out of curiosity in 1962.
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Displaying tactical discipline and superior talent, the English national team defeated Mexico 3-2 with a lineup reduced to 10 men on Sunday night.
Verb
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The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
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But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
Verb
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That doesn’t do anything to dull the impact of Haaland’s collection, though.
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Ampere’s research appeared to suggest that the influx of romance book adaptations and romance drama in general has dulled the appetite for reality shows about love.
Verb
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In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime).
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For years, people have been frustrated and exhausted by the seemingly endless amount of swiping and small talk that go nowhere on dating apps.
Verb
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The new World Cup format could dampen the impact of the match slightly.
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The machines in Masterbuilt’s Gravity Series also use a fan to stoke or dampen a fire and offer great temperature control within a wide range—between 225℉ and 700℉.
Verb
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Conwell drained a three on his first shot but then missed six in a row, before hitting another three late in the third quarter.
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The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.
Verb
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Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
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Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
Cite this Entry
“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaden. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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