DEADEN Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

deaden

verb

ˈde-dᵊn

Definition of deaden

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

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

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 deaden Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026 Yet rather than revive Japan’s animal spirits, free money deadened them. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for deaden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaden

Verb

Iran appears to be targeting commercial vessels conducting oil transfers to try to undermine vessels' ability to move energy through the strait, the Institute for the Study of War said Tuesday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Despite the tension, Humphries rejected the suggestion that the issue would have undermined the chemistry behind her Olympic gold medals.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermine

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

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

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

Fans care about rivalries among teams made up of students who generally progress through college and exhaust their eligibility alongside their classmates, rather than athletes whose college careers extend well beyond the traditional timeline.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Across a vast and punishing Atlantic, the voyage exhausted the patience of its crew, but never the conviction of its captain.

— Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Meanwhile, the weather pattern has dampened hurricanes in the Atlantic, where the ACE is less than 18% of what's normal for this time of year.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
The president and his allies have warned that legal hurdles and uncertainty affecting key projects could dampen investor confidence.

— Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dampen

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

Browse Nearby Words

deadbeats

deaden

dead-end

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Style

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

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Synonyms of deaden

verb

Example Sentences

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