deafening

American  

[def-uh-ning] / ˈdɛf ə nɪŋ /

adjective

1. overwhelmingly loud; booming; earsplitting: the deafening sound of a chainsaw.

   the crowd’s deafening roar;

   the deafening sound of a chainsaw.

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noun

1. deadening.

deafening British  

/ ˈdɛfənɪŋ /

adjective

1. excessively loud

   deafening music

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Other Word Forms

• deafeningly adverb
• half-deafening adjective
• nondeafening adjective
• nondeafeningly adverb
• quasi-deafening adjective

Etymology

Origin of deafening

First recorded in 1590–1600; deafen + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

When a deafening drone tore a hole in her roof in northern Iraq, Iranian Kurd Amine Poursaid, gripped by fear of another attack, packed her family's belongings and prepared to escape.

From Barron's

All the dogs were screaming—high-pitched deafening screams because they were impatient and wanted to run, knowing they were heading in the direction of home.

From Literature

Above me the thud and scrape of thirty-plus men shoving barrels of tea around was almost deafening and the interior of the ship had an overpowering musty smell that made my stomach roll a little.

From Literature

Moments later, a second rocket motor kicks in with a deafening roar.

From BBC

Inside the Principality, the noise was deafening, The head thudded, the ears split.

From BBC

Related Words

• blaring
• noisy
• ringing
• roaring
• rowdy
• thunderous
• vociferous