deaden

Verb

Verb Forms: deadened, deadening, deadens

• To make less intense, sensitive, or lively.
• make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
• cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients
• make vapid or deprive of spirit
  • "deadened wine"
• lessen the momentum or velocity of
  • "deaden a ship's headway"
• become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor
• make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation
  • "deaden a sound"
• convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil
• To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle.
• To become less lively; to diminish (by itself).
• To make soundproof.

Examples

• He hoped to deaden his opponent’s enthusiasm with a high-scoring bingo.

Synonyms

blunt, damp, dampen, girdle

Antonyms

enliven