Standard Lemma guide

deaden

verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈdɛdən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛdən
  • CMU ARPABET: D EH1 D AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • deaden the pain
  • deaden sound
  • deaden the senses
  • Painkillers helped to deaden the pain.
  • Thick curtains deaden the sound of traffic.
  • Routine can deaden one’s enthusiasm.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become less lively; to diminish (by itself).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To make soundproof.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to deaden a wall or a floor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: convert

5

verb

Meaning 5

make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Terror blunted her feelings
  • deaden a sound

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blunt

Antonyms: enliven

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: obtund, petrify, dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break

6

verb

Meaning 6

become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change

7

verb

Meaning 7

make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • muffle the message

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dampen, damp

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break

8

verb

Meaning 8

lessen the momentum or velocity of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • deaden a ship's headway

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: retard

9

verb

Meaning 9

make vapid or deprive of spirit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • deadened wine

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

10

verb

Meaning 10

cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • girdle the plant

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: girdle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: incise

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: endormir — To render less lively
  • Galician: amortuxar — To render less lively
  • Galician: esmorecer — To render less lively
  • German: abtöten — To render less lively
  • Irish: bodhraigh — To render less lively
  • Italian: intontire — To render less lively
  • Italian: smorzare — To render less lively
  • Italian: attenuare — To render less lively
  • Italian: sminuire — To render less lively
  • Maltese: mewwet — To render less lively
  • Polish: przytępiać — To render less lively
  • Polish: przytępić — To render less lively
  • Spanish: amortecer — To render less lively
  • Spanish: amortiguar — To render less lively
  • Catalan: insonoritzar — To make soundproof
  • French: assourdir — To make soundproof
  • French: isoler — To make soundproof
  • Polish: tłumić — To make soundproof
  • Polish: stłumić — To make soundproof