as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief
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Recent Examples of benumb
Because both actors look like lumpish proletarian versions of Ingmar Bergman stars — Alma Pöysti, radiant yet benumbed, plays Ansa like a dish-towel Bibi Andersson, and Jussi Vatanen could be the schlump brother of Max von Sydow (with a dollop of Ryan Gosling).
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 May 2023
What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 May 2023
What’s destructive, and eventually benumbing, is the kitchen-sink clutter of fantasy, reality, wish-fulfillment and glib enchantment.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019
But her core insight into how even mediocrities can be institutionally benumbed and conscripted into heinous projects remains fertile.
—George Prochnik, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benumb
Verb
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This, together with a higher standard deduction, reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize deductions.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Choose looser fits that reduce the pressure on your hair follicles.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Even with such acrobatics, the fabric has not pilled or dulled.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2025
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The set comes with a magnetic walnut knife block to securely hold each knife and maintain sharpness without dulling blades.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Russia did not provide Iran with key battlefield technology, such as air defense components, that could have been used to blunt the effectiveness of Israel's air campaign.—
Ilan Berman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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There is a rural hospital bailout fund designed to blunt the impact of Medicaid cuts, for example.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Most Trump pardons go to Republicans, but not all The effect of Trump’s pardons, Niven said, is to undermine the government’s ability to prosecute corruption cases while also numbing the public to bad behavior by politicians.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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His third flick, Heads of State, which despite the attractive pairing of John Cena and Idris Elba, is simply more of the same, but tamed down enough to somehow earn a PG-13 with a bloated running time of 113 mind- numbing minutes.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The best wrinkle creams on Amazon prove that drugstore prices don't diminish efficacy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
8 July 2025
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Incentives for the best and brightest foreign science students to come to the U.S. are diminishing at the same time its competitors are increasing their efforts to attract the strongest STEM researchers.—
Marc Zimmer,
The Conversation,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is 86 years-old and his political power is weakened following the short war with Israel.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
9 July 2025
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The June jobs report showed strong headline numbers, but the underlying data pointed to a weakening labor market.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The Finnish midfielder deadened the ball with a foot and quickly chipped it laterally over nearby defenders.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 July 2025
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Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
18 May 2025
Verb
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The excitement over Tesla’s robotaxi launch is subsiding as fewer social media videos are posted.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
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Investors have cheered as stocks have swiftly recovered to fresh highs and volatility has subsided.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benumb. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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