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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Kirk had disappeared from their feeds, and Erika Kirk had gone viral for the wrong reasons—taking the stage at her husband’s memorial service amid pyrotechnics and attempting her own campus tour, undermining her image as a Christian trad wife whose priorities were her family and her home.
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Over his 18-year tenure at the Fed, Greenspan embodied the omnipotent technocrat — a legacy critics say was fatally undermined by his failure to spot the 2008 housing bubble.
Verb
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New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
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The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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Blurring bamboo silk powders keep shine in check without dulling skin, while camellia seed oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E help mature complexions look smooth, hydrated, and naturally luminous.
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Bitch, despite being created with Reed in tandem with My Face Hurts From Smiling, leans more pop and R&B with lyrics that may have been dulled down for palatability.
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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Several environmental groups have also proposed removing or entirely bypassing the Glen Canyon Dam, draining what's left into Lake Mead, and implementing stricter water conservation measures.
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The president said that his administration would have to drain the pool and start over again as the new liner shed chunks of itself.
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 3 Jul. 2026.
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