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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even by Cannes 2024, the conversation around AI had become so deafening that the filmmakers didn’t want to explain their cheeky cinematic device in full. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2024 Everything’s gone from actually deafening to dead silent. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024 The Dodgers’ deafening silence hasn’t quieted a public outcry. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 The ride to orbit After the countdown clock struck zero, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared to life, sending a blinding blaze and deafening blast across the launch site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deafen 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deafen was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near deafen

Cite this Entry

“Deafen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafen. Accessed 29 Nov. 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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