deaden

verb

dead·​en ˈde-dᵊn How to pronounce deaden (audio)
deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ How to pronounce deaden (audio)
ˈde-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to impair in vigor or sensation : blunt
deadened his enthusiasm
deadened the pain
2
a
: to deprive of brilliance
b
: to make vapid or spiritless
oxygen deadens wine
c
: to make (something, such as a wall) impervious to sound
3
: to deprive of life : kill

intransitive verb

: to become dead : lose life or vigor
deadener
ˈded-nər How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-dᵊn-ər
noun
deadeningly
ˈded-niŋ-lē How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-dᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

Examples of deaden in a Sentence

He took aspirin to deaden the pain. The new insulation will help to deaden the noise from the street outside.
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 studying the images, engineers can confirm and enhance the sonic-boom-deadening properties for the XB-1's airframe. David Szondy, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025 Lightweight glass, a reduction of sound-deadening materials, and the marginally lighter 6-speed manual gearbox help the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera T Cabriolet weigh 3,505 pounds—the company's lightest manual open-roof variant. Michael Harley, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 In times of intensifying economic inequality, when many of the jobs on offer are precarious, underpaid, and spiritually deadening, the prospect of becoming your own boss holds a lot of appeal. Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 How the pulse deadens at the prospect. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deaden

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deaden was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Deaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaden. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

deaden

verb
dead·​en ˈded-ᵊn How to pronounce deaden (audio)
deadened; deadening ˈded-niŋ How to pronounce deaden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling : dull
deaden pain with drugs

More from Merriam-Webster on deaden

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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