DEADENS Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

deadens

verb

present tense third-person singular of deaden

as in undermines

to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reduces

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling a couple of aspirins deadened the headache

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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 deadens Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadens

Verb

There’s a sense that doubt would be a form of disloyalty to what came before you, or that admitting a weakness undermines the confidence of the people around you.

— Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Thiel is making a category error that undermines his entire argument.

— David Gibson, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermines

Verb

The anti-immigrant movement reduces kids to constitutional hypotheticals and demographic statistics.

— Hannah Harshe, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
That gives Jaylen Warren a favorable matchup and reduces the need for Aaron Rodgers to force throws downfield.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduces

Verb

That pretty much exhausts the points of agreement between the pro- and anti-Proposition 40 camps.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Instead of occupying both sides with large cooling vents, air enters toward the front of the station and exhausts through the rear.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhausts

Verb

Until, suddenly, the life drains from his eyes, sometimes for barely a second, and returning before anyone else in the scene notices.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
The all-in-one dock cleans the spinning dual mops with hot water, dries them with warm air to prevent musty smells, and automatically drains and refills the water tank.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of drains

Verb

The local control is missing and the local responsibility diminishes significantly.

— John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminishes

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deadening

deadens

deadhead

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“Deadens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadens. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deadens

verb

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