deafen

American

[def-uhn] / ˈdɛf ən /

verb (used with object)

to make deaf.

The accident deafened him for life.
to stun or overwhelm with noise.

The pounding of the machines deafened us.
deaden.
Obsolete. to render (a sound) inaudible, especially by a louder sound.

deafen British

/ ˈdɛfən /

verb

(tr) to make deaf, esp momentarily, as by a loud noise

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of deafen

First recorded in 1590–1600; deaf + -en ¹

Explanation

To deafen is to make someone permanently or temporarily unable to hear, especially with a very loud noise. If the music at a party deafens you, you'll probably go home early. Things that might deafen you include a fire truck's siren, your brother blowing his trumpet in your ear, or an explosion. You can also use the word in a more figurative way, when something makes you feel overwhelmed by its loudness: "I'm sick of living on this busy road — when the bus goes by, it deafens me!" The earliest verb with this meaning was deaf, which became deafen by the late 16th century.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The desire to deafen and respond with noise reflects a kind of discredit of the political discourse,” Christian Salmon, a French essayist and columnist for the online publication Slate, said in an interview.

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

Across Los Angeles, studio denizens accustomed to providing all-hours access for musicians on creative benders have been wandering hallways and pondering ways to deafen the silence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2020

Opposing sides defecate piles of paperwork at one another, seemingly hoping to discourage or deafen the opponent.

From Golf Digest • Dec. 6, 2018

“Tribes” isn’t just about auditory deafness, but also the inner voices that scramble the psyche and deafen us to others’ needs, and the difference between cerebral and emotional intelligence.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2017

The blast didn’t just deafen Alex, it shuddered right through him as if trying to rip out his heart.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023