deaden

IPA/ˈdedn/
KK[dˈɛdən]IPA/ˈdedn/

deaden — 動詞

  • deadenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • deadenshe / she / it
  • deadenedpast simple
  • deadening-ing form

1. to make a physical feeling, a sound, or an emotional reaction weaker or less sha

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

減輕；減弱

使疼痛、聲音或情緒反應變弱

to make a physical feeling, a sound, or an emotional reaction weaker or less sharp, so that it is no longer as strong or bothersome

例句

The dentist used a gel to deaden the pain in Mira's gums before the procedure.

牙醫在進行療程前，先使用凝膠減輕米拉牙齦的疼痛。

deaden + pain: medical context for reducing sensation

A thick carpet can deaden the sound of footsteps on a wooden floor.

厚地毯可以減弱木地板上腳步聲的音量。

deaden + sound: home improvement context

同義詞
  • dull

    more common and less clinical; can apply to pain, sound, or emotions but suggests a less complete effect

  • numb

    specific to physical sensation; implies loss of feeling rather than just reduction

  • muffle

    applies almost exclusively to sound; suggests a wrapping or covering effect

  • soften

    gentler and suggests a pleasant reduction rather than a complete removal

反義詞
  • amplify

    to make a sound or feeling stronger

  • intensify

    to increase the strength of a sensation or emotion

  • sharpen

    to make a feeling or quality more acute

文法句型

deaden + noun phrase (pain, sound, feeling)

用法筆記

Object is typically a physical sensation (pain, burning), a sound (noise, footsteps), or an emotional response (excitement, anxiety). Common in medical, home, and soundproofing contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine deadened.
✅The medicine deadened the pain.
💡In this sense, deaden is transitive and needs an object.
❌The injection deadened my leg to feel nothing.
✅The injection deadened the feeling in my leg.
💡Deaden already means 'make less sensitive'; avoid adding redundant phrases about feeling.

2. to make something less exciting, lively, or enjoyable, often through repetition

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

使乏味；沖淡

使失去趣味或活力

to make something less exciting, lively, or enjoyable, often through repetition or lack of variety, so that it feels flat or empty

例句

The slow pace of the film deadened the audience's interest within the first hour.

電影節奏緩慢，在第一個小時內就沖淡了觀眾的興趣。

deaden + interest: losing engagement from boredom

Years of doing the same tasks had deadened Darius's enthusiasm for his job.

多年做同樣的工作，讓達里烏斯對這份工作的熱情變得乏味。

deaden + enthusiasm: work context with repetition

同義詞
  • dull

    more common in everyday speech; can apply to interest, enthusiasm, or wits

  • flatten

    more informal; suggests reducing excitement to a uniform low level

  • drain

    metaphorical; implies energy or life being drawn away

反義詞
  • enliven

    to make something more exciting or interesting

  • stimulate

    to encourage interest or activity

  • animate

    to give life or energy to something

文法句型

deaden + abstract noun (enthusiasm, interest, curiosity)

用法筆記

Object is usually an abstract noun relating to interest, enthusiasm, creativity, or curiosity. The cause is typically repetition, monotony, or absence of stimulation.

常見錯誤

❌The dull speech deadened the audience.
✅The dull speech deadened the audience's interest.
💡Deaden typically takes an abstract quality (interest, enthusiasm), not a person, as its object.

3. to gradually lose energy, excitement, or liveliness on its own, without being ac

3.動詞不及物C1
釋義

消退；沉寂

（活力或熱情）逐漸消失

to gradually lose energy, excitement, or liveliness on its own, without being acted upon by an outside force

例句

As the evening went on, the party began to deaden and people gradually left.

到了晚上，派對逐漸失去生氣，客人也陸續離去。

intransitive: party deadens (social event loses energy)

Sumin's excitement about the trip deadened after hearing about the delays.

秀敏對這趟旅行的興奮感在得知延誤消息後逐漸消退。

同義詞
  • fade

    more common; suggests a slow, gentle loss of intensity

  • wane

    more formal; implies a gradual decrease over time

  • subside

    suggests a decrease after reaching a peak

反義詞
  • intensify

    to become stronger or more active

  • pick up

    informal; to become more lively or energetic

  • revive

    to return to a lively or active state

文法句型

noun phrase + deaden (no object)

用法筆記

Intransitive — the subject itself loses energy rather than having energy removed by an external agent. The subject is often a social event, conversation, performance, or emotional state.

常見錯誤

❌The excitement was deadened by the rain.' (when meaning it faded on its own)
✅The excitement deadened as the rain began to fall.
💡Use the intransitive form when the energy fades naturally, without an external cause.

4. to make colours, light, or an image less bright, clear, or vivid, so that they a

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

暗淡；模糊

降低亮度或清晰度

to make colours, light, or an image less bright, clear, or vivid, so that they appear faded or muted

例句

A layer of dust had deadened the bright colours of the old painting.

一層灰塵使那幅舊畫鮮豔的色彩變得暗淡。

deaden + colours: physical change in appearance

The thick fog deadened the harbour lights, turning them into soft orange spots.

濃霧使港口的燈光變得模糊，變成柔和的橘色光點。

同義詞
  • dim

    more common; suggests reducing the amount of light

  • mute

    applies specifically to colours; suggests making them less vivid

  • subdue

    implies a deliberate softening of light or colour

反義詞
  • brighten

    to make colours or light more vivid

  • sharpen

    to make an image clearer or more distinct

  • intensify

    to make colours or light stronger

文法句型

deaden + visual noun (colour, light, image)

用法筆記

Often used in passive or participial form (deadened colours, deadened light). Object is typically visual: colours, lights, reflections, or the overall brightness of a scene.

常見錯誤

❌The dirty window deadened.
✅The dirty window deadened the light coming into the room.
💡This sense is transitive; specify what is made less bright.