deadening Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)
   stultification; impairment; constipation.
   
2. verb make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
   deaden; damp; dampen.
   
   • muffle the message
3. verb cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients
   girdle; deaden.
   
   • girdle the plant
4. verb make vapid or deprive of spirit
   deaden.
   
   • deadened wine
5. verb lessen the momentum or velocity of
   deaden.
   
   • deaden a ship's headway
6. verb become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor
   deaden.
   
7. verb make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation
   deaden; blunt.
   
   • Terror blunted her feelings
   • deaden a sound
8. verb convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil
   deaden.
   
9. adjective satellite so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
   tedious; slow; ho-hum; boring; wearisome; tiresome; dull; irksome.
   
   • a boring evening with uninteresting people
   • the deadening effect of some routine tasks
   • a dull play
   • his competent but dull performance
   • a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
   • what an irksome task the writing of long letters is"- Edmund Burke
   • tedious days on the train
   • the tiresome chirping of a cricket"- Mark Twain
   • other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome

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