deafen

verb

deaf·​en ˈde-fən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening ˈde-fə-niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
ˈdef-niŋ
 ; deafens

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf
was deafened by the explosion

Examples of deafen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
By now the crowd was deafening and fans surged forward for a better view. — Devinder Bains, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026 Loud but not deafening, swank but not stuffy, Vandell is a warmly stylish haunt, a place to land at any point in an evening. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The siren let out a deafening wail, and eight jumpers sprinted to nearby racks of gear. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 And so the lack of dialogue with all parts of society is kind of deafening silence. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deafen

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deafen was circa 1586

Browse Nearby Words

deaf-ear crab
deafen
deafening
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deafen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafen. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
: to make deaf
deafeningly
-(ə-)niŋ-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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