deaden
gb/dˈɛdən/ us/dˈɛdən/
C1
English
tompít, enyhít, elnyel, elzsibbaszt, eltompít, érzéketlenné tesz, fakít, mattít, kicsorbít, feszültségmentesít, áramtalanít
VERB
C1
1
Usage pattern:
deaden [pain/effect/impact/response]
The medication deadened the pain enough for her to sleep.
A gyógyszer annyira enyhítette a fájdalmát, hogy el tudott aludni.
A joke at the start helped deaden the tension in the room.
Egy vicc az elején segített oldani a teremben a feszültséget.
Thick gloves can deaden the feeling of the vibrations.
Learner examples
This spray deadens the pain.
Ez a spray enyhíti a fájdalmat.
The carpet deadened the impact of the fall.
A szőnyeg tompította az esés erejét.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with dead (adjective). Deaden is a verb meaning ‘make less strong’.
Meaning
make less strong or intense
Collocations
deaden the pain
|deaden the effect
|deaden the impact
|deaden the shock
|deaden the force
|deaden a response
|deaden criticism
|deaden enthusiasm
Synonyms
dampen (Often suggests reducing strength gradually or slightly.)
|
blunt (Common for reducing force or emotional impact.)
|
lessen (General word meaning ‘make smaller/less’.)
Antonyms
intensify (Make stronger or more extreme.)
|
heighten (Increase strength or effect, especially feelings or interest.)
Themes
daily_life
|emotions
|health
Definition
to make something feel weaker or less strong
To make something less strong, intense, or noticeable.
VERB
C1
2
elnyel
B1
Usage pattern:
deaden [noise/sound/echo]
Curtains and rugs help deaden the noise from the hallway.
A függönyök és a szőnyegek segítenek elnyelni a folyosóról beszűrődő zajt.
They added foam panels to deaden the echo in the studio.
Habszivacs paneleket tettek fel, hogy elnyeljék a visszhangot a stúdióban.
Fresh snow deadened the sound of traffic.
Learner examples
The carpet deadens the sound of footsteps.
A szőnyeg elnyeli a lépések zaját.
Common mistake:
Deaden often implies absorbing sound (like carpet or foam), not just turning volume down.
Meaning
reduce sound or noise
Collocations
deaden the noise
|deaden the sound
|deaden the echo
|deaden footsteps
|deaden street noise
|sound-deadening material
|deaden a room
|deaden the acoustics
Synonyms
muffle (Suggests covering or blocking so the sound is less clear.)
|
dampen (Common in acoustics: reduce resonance or vibration.)
|
soundproof (Stronger and more permanent; aims to block sound transmission.)
Antonyms
amplify (Make louder.)
|
echo (Cause sound to reflect and repeat rather than be absorbed.)
Themes
home
|music
|technology
Definition
to make a noise quieter
To make a sound quieter or less clear by absorbing or blocking it.
VERB
C1
3
elzsibbaszt
B2
Usage pattern:
deaden [skin/nerves/a limb]
The dentist used a gel to deaden the gum before the injection.
A fogorvos az injekció előtt géllel elzsibbasztotta az ínyt.
The icy wind deadened his cheeks within minutes.
A jeges szél percek alatt elzsibbasztotta az arcát.
A tight bandage can deaden the skin if it’s left on too long.
Learner examples
Cold water deadened my fingers.
A hideg víz elzsibbasztotta az ujjaimat.
Common mistake:
Deaden usually means reduce sensation, not make something completely unable to move.
Meaning
make physically numb
Collocations
deaden the nerves
|deaden the skin
|deaden the area
|deaden sensation
|cold deadens
|a numbing agent deadens
|deaden the fingertips
Synonyms
numb (The most common everyday synonym.)
|
anesthetize (More medical; often from a drug.)
Antonyms
sensitize (Make more sensitive to feeling.)
|
restore feeling (Bring sensation back.)
Themes
health
|body
Definition
to make part of your body lose feeling
To make a part of the body lose feeling or become less sensitive.
VERB
C1
4
eltompít
C1
Usage pattern:
deaden [someone] (to [something])
Years of bad news can deaden people to suffering they would once have found shocking.
Az évekig tartó rossz hírek érzéketlenné tehetik az embereket olyan szenvedéssel szemben, amelyet korábban megrázónak találtak volna.
The constant criticism deadened his confidence.
Az állandó bírálat megtörte az önbizalmát.
She tried not to let routine deaden her curiosity.
Learner examples
The job deadened his feelings.
A munka eltompította az érzéseit.
Common mistake:
Often used in passive (‘be deadened to…’) when describing a person’s state.
Meaning
make emotionally less sensitive
Collocations
deaden feelings
|deaden empathy
|deaden compassion
|deaden someone to suffering
|be deadened to violence
|emotionally deadened
|deaden sensitivity
Synonyms
desensitize (Emphasizes reduced emotional reaction after repeated exposure.)
|
numb (Informal and common, especially about shock or grief.)
Antonyms
sensitize (Make more aware or responsive.)
|
move (Cause a strong emotional reaction.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|work
Definition
to make someone feel less emotion or care less
To make someone less emotionally responsive or less affected, often through repeated experience or shock.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
deaden [color/light/shine]
Over time, sunlight can deaden the color of fabrics.
Az idő múlásával a napfény kifakíthatja a szövetek színét.
Matte varnish is used to deaden the shine on the paint.
A matt lakkot a festék fényének tompítására használják.
The grey filter deadened the warm tones in the photo.
Learner examples
Sun can deaden the color of a poster.
A nap kifakíthatja egy plakát színét.
Common mistake:
This sense is about appearance (dullness), not about killing something.
Meaning
make less bright or vivid
Collocations
deaden the color
|deaden the shine
|deaden the light
|deaden a gloss
|deaden the finish
|deaden the tone
Synonyms
dull (Very close; common for both color and surface shine.)
|
dim (More about light level than color richness.)
|
tone down (Often deliberate; reduce brightness/strength.)
Antonyms
brighten (Make more bright or vivid.)
|
enliven (Make more lively or vivid, often about color or atmosphere.)
Themes
art
|home
Definition
to make colors or light look less bright
To make something look duller, less bright, or less vivid.
VERB
C1
6
kicsorbít
C1
Usage pattern:
deaden [blade/edge/knife]
Cutting on stone can quickly deaden the blade.
A kövön vágás gyorsan kicsorbíthatja a pengét.
Sand and grit will deaden the edge of the skates.
A homok és az apró kavicsok kicsorbítják a korcsolya élét.
The cheap sharpener deadened the knife instead of improving it.
Learner examples
This board can deaden your knife.
Ez a deszka kicsorbíthatja a késedet.
Common mistake:
Blunt is more common in everyday speech; deaden sounds slightly more literary or technical in this sense.
Meaning
make a blade less sharp
Collocations
deaden the blade
|deaden the edge
|deaden a knife
|deaden the point
|deaden the teeth (of a saw)
Synonyms
blunt (Most common for tools and edges.)
|
dull (Common and general; also used for colors and minds.)
Antonyms
sharpen (Make an edge or point sharper.)
|
hone (Sharpen with care and precision.)
Themes
tools
|daily_life
Definition
to make a knife or edge less sharp
To make something sharp less sharp or less effective at cutting or biting.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
7
Usage pattern:
deaden [a line/circuit/cable]
Always deaden the circuit before you start work on the panel.
Mindig feszültségmentesítse az áramkört, mielőtt dolgozni kezd a panelen.
The engineer deadened the line and tested it before cutting the cable.
A mérnök feszültségmentesítette a vezetéket, és a kábel elvágása előtt letesztelte.
They deadened the supply to prevent accidental shock.
Common mistake:
This is specialized; in general English, people more often say ‘switch off’, ‘cut the power’, or ‘de-energize’.
Meaning
make a circuit safely inactive
Collocations
deaden the circuit
|deaden the line
|deaden the cable
|deaden the power
|deaden before working
|deaden and ground
|deaden the supply
Synonyms
de-energize (Standard technical term for removing electrical energy.)
|
isolate (Disconnect from the power source or system.)
Antonyms
energize (Supply power to make active.)
|
activate (Make operational (not specifically about electricity).)
Themes
technology
|electricity
|safety
Definition
to make electrical equipment safe by switching off power
To make an electrical line, circuit, or device inactive by turning off or removing its power, especially for safety.
Grammar
Dictionary form
deaden
IPA
GB/dˈɛdən/
US/dˈɛdən/
Syllables & stress
deaden (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (deaden)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: deaden
- 3rd Person Singular: deadens
- Present Participle: deadening
- Past: deadened
Word family
Expressions
be deadened to [something]
1/bˈi dˈidənd tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
become less sensitive to something
to not feel much about something anymore
Examples
- After years in emergency medicine, she was deadened to the sound of alarms.
- He seemed deadened to criticism after hearing it so often.
- By the end of the hike, my feet were deadened to the cold.
Learner examples
- He is deadened to the noise now.
deaden the blow
1/dˈɛdən ðə blˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
reduce the harsh effect
to make bad news or a hit feel less bad
Examples
- He tried to deaden the blow by starting with some good news.
- The thick padding deadened the blow when she fell.
- A small bonus helped deaden the blow of the pay cut.
Learner examples
- She tried to deaden the blow of the bad news.
deaden the senses
1/dˈɛdən ðə sˈɛnsɪz/
fixed phrase
make people less aware
to make someone feel and notice less
Examples
- Too much alcohol can deaden the senses and slow your reactions.
- Long hours in front of a screen can deaden the senses over time.
- The loud, constant music seemed designed to deaden the senses.
Learner examples
- Alcohol can deaden the senses.