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deaden Definition

deaden (ded′'n)

transitive verb

  1. to lessen the vigor, intensity, or liveliness of; dull
  2. to take away the sensitivity of; make numb
  3. to treat (a wall, floor, or ceiling) so as to keep sounds from going through; make soundproof

Etymology: dead + -en, replacing ME deden

intransitive verb

to become as if dead; lose vigor, intensity, etc.
deaden Synonyms

deaden

v.

  1. To reduce life or the evidence of life

    blunt, impair, dull, numb, desensitize, repress, slow, paralyze, anesthetize, drug, chloroform, gas, freeze, narcotize, etherize, put to sleep, make unfit, knock out, daze, benumb, incapacitate, depress, stupefy, stun, smother, stifle, suppress, frustrate, weaken, devitalize, injure, exhaust, tire, retard, knock stiff*, KO*, lay out*, dope*, put out of order*, take the edge off*; see also drug, weaken 2.

    Antonyms animate*, revitalize*, invigorate. *

  2. To soften

    tone down, dim, muffle, mute, dull, dampen, cushion; see also decrease 2, soften 2.

deaden Usage Examples

Object

  • nerve: The fever of war that would presently clog vein and artery, deaden nerve and destroy brain, had still to develop.
  • noise: Does anyone have any comments about acoustic matting to deaden noise?
  • sound: The hotel is also very noisy with tile floors and no carpets to deaden the sound.
  • pain: Even more promising: a glass of wine was provided to deaden the pain of the imminent poetry.
  • effect: Pour money down the throat, choke the senses and deaden the effect.
  • material: No 7 had sound deadening material placed under the roof to reduce drumming.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: A thin carpet in a dark color does not deaden your footsteps.
  • emotionally: The wham-bam bloodiness of much American cinema ( often emotionally deadening pap granted 15 certificates ) is replaced by understated scenes of upsetting impact.
  • almost: Incidentally, ' the area of ' will deaden almost any sentence, particularly when displayed prominently at the beginning.