deafen

verb

deaf·​en ˈde-fən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening ˈde-fə-niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
ˈdef-niŋ
; deafens

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf
was deafened by the explosion

Examples of deafen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some residents fondly recall when trade and transit links still existed with Kyiv On Thursday afternoon, deafening explosions sent people running into restaurant bathrooms, workplace basements and the concrete bomb shelters authorities have constructed at every bus stop. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The candidate is excited about the opportunity, but their enthusiasm wanes when there’s a deafening silence from the hiring team’s side. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Then when the team stepped out for the first time in front of students at the preseason basketball rally, the cheer was deafening, assistant coach Valerie Ying said. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Against this background, the relative silence that has come from so many of the world’s environmental organizations has almost been deafening. Daniel Markind, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But that deafening roar risks potential ear damage and hearing loss. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024 The nose alone comprises nearly half plane’s length to ensure shockwaves generated near the front do not merge with waves created in the rear and thus emit a deafening boom. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Jan. 2024 Trending on Billboard The screams become truly deafening when, roughly 10 minutes later, the curtain opens to reveal the diminutive 55-year-old Australian pop star clad entirely in metallic gold. Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 The song builds into a deafening crescendo as Missy screams the chorus until she is fully unleashed. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deafen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deafen was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near deafen

Cite this Entry

“Deafen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafen. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)
: to make deaf
deafeningly
-(ə-)niŋ-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

deafen

verb
deaf·​en ˈdef-ən How to pronounce deafen (audio)
deafened; deafening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce deafen (audio)

transitive verb

: to make permanently or temporarily deaf

More from Merriam-Webster on deafen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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