BENUMB Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

benumb

verb

bi-ˈnəm

Definition of benumb

as in to reduce

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of benumb What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment. — Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019 But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile. — George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for benumb

Verb

Sullivan touted his Bycatch Reduction Act, a bill intended to reduce excess fish caught by large commercial trawlers.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 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 dull

Verb

The opinion blunts a major attack line Democrats have used, especially against Moody and Uthmeier.

— Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
The tension of Noah’s character, which Lanterns presents as a parallel to John’s, is immediately blunted by the show’s need to soften and resolve everything left uncertain in John’s.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of blunt

Verb

The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but that rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
The culture surrounding the use of alcohol has diminished in younger generations, at least anecdotally, Haddock said.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

But while those will provide short-term relief, the currency is expected to weaken toward the end of the year and mid-2027, and a 100 rupee-per-dollar mark could not be ruled out, strategists said.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
However, following his arrest, the owner, Mohammad Khan, blamed this week's rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

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
Too much intention, too much Trying to Say, too much overarching metaphor, can deaden your work.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of deaden

Verb

Winds were expected to subside across much of Northern California on Friday, but gusty conditions were forecast to continue in southern portions of PG&E’s service territory into Saturday morning.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of subside

Browse Nearby Words

bents

benumb

benumbed

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“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of benumb

verb

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