WordGarden.iodeaden
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈɛdən/
US
- /ˈdɛdən/
Meanings
Verb
to make a feeling, effect, or force less strong
to make part of the body numb or less able to feel
to make a sound quieter or less resonant
More meaningsFewer meanings
to make something lifeless, inactive, or no longer alive
Beyond the definition
To deaden something is to make it less lively, sensitive, or intense. Think of winter frost that deadens the colors in a garden, making them appear muted and gray. Or imagine how a thick layer of snow might deaden sound, muffling the noises of a busy city and turning a roar into a whisper.
It doesn't necessarily mean to destroy something—just to reduce its vitality or impact. You can deaden physical pain with medicine or deaden emotional pain by distracting yourself with constant activity. In older writing, you may see "dead" used as a verb in this sense, but today "deaden" is the usual choice for the process of numbing or softening a sharp experience to make it more bearable.
It can also mean to make a hit, shock, or fall feel less hard—for example, padding can deaden the impact, so it hurts less.
The word "deaden" describes the act of diminishing vitality, sensation, or intensity. It suggests a lessening of feeling—whether physical, emotional, or metaphorical. For example, a doctor might use a local anesthetic to "deaden a nerve," ensuring that the patient feels little or no pain during a procedure. In this context, the word implies a temporary suspension of sensitivity.
"Deaden" is also frequently used to describe the suppression of emotions. Someone might try to "deaden the pain" of a personal loss by throwing themselves into their work or avoiding reminders of their grief. This isn't about eliminating the feeling entirely, but rather reducing its sharpest edges. Figuratively, the word can describe making something less effective or vibrant. A heavy carpet is designed to "deaden footsteps," making them quieter and less noticeable, just as excessive routine can "deaden the mind," making a person less responsive to new ideas.
Historically, "deaden" evolved from the idea of making something "dead," but today it is almost exclusively associated with the reduction of force or sensation. It implies a gradual dampening or a stifling of energy rather than an abrupt end. Whether you are talking about soundproofing a room, numbing a physical ache, or silencing a vibrant color, "deaden" describes the process of making something less alive, sensitive, or powerful.
Examples
- 1
Noise reduction
Thick curtains helped deaden the traffic noise from the street.
- 2
Physical numbness
The cold had deadened my fingers, so I could barely feel the keys.
- 3
Pain relief
She took a pill to deaden the pain in her shoulder after the match.
- 4
Lost enthusiasm
Years of doing the same routine had deadened his enthusiasm for the job.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Emotional numbness
Working in the emergency room had partly deadened him to scenes of injury.
- Patterndeaden someone to + disturbing thing
make them less emotionally affected by it
- 6
Softening bad news
The manager tried to deaden the blow by announcing generous severance pay.
- Phrasedeaden the blow
make bad news feel less harsh
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- deaden the sound
- deaden the pain
- deaden the impact
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- deadenverb
Forms
- deadening-ing formverb
- deadenedpast tenseverb
- deadensverb