deaden

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make a feeling or sensation, especially pain, less strong.

   The dentist gave him an injection to deaden the pain before drilling.

2. 2
   verb

   To make a sound quieter or muffled.

   Thick carpets and curtains deaden the noise from the street outside.

3. 3
   verb

   To make something less lively, intense, or active.

   Years of routine work had deadened her enthusiasm for the job.

From dead + -en. Compare Dutch doden (“to kill”), West Frisian deadzje (“to kill”).

Topics