fall on deaf ears

idiom

: to fail to be heard : to be ignored
Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

Examples of fall on deaf ears 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.
Egg prices therefore remain a key touchstone for consumers gauging the impact of persistent inflation as well as the administration's ability to address it, meaning Trump's triumphant statements could fall on deaf ears if reported declines fail to translate into lower prices on store shelves. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 Critics hell-bent on passing off Ike's concerns as endangering our national defense would have seen their remarks fall on deaf ears. Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 On Wednesday, Trump threatened to impose stiff taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Moscow if an agreement isn’t reached to end the war, but that warning will probably fall on deaf ears in the Kremlin. Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025 We’re either lectured on the history of our own struggle, or appealed to with dire fearmongering and empty promises while our cries fall on deaf ears. Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for fall on deaf ears

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fall on deaf ears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%20on%20deaf%20ears. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!