to make less sensitive, active, energetic, or forcible; weaken

to deaden sound; to deaden the senses; to deaden the force of a blow.

to lessen the velocity of; retard

to deaden the headway of a ship.

to make impervious to sound, as a floor.

to become dead.

verb

animate , build , enliven , increase , strengthen

verb

abate , alleviate , anesthetize , benumb , blunt , check , chloroform , consume , cushion , damp , dampen , depress , deprive , desensitize , destroy , devitalize , dim , dope , drown , dull , etherize , exhaust , freeze , frustrate , gas , hush , impair , incapacitate , injure , knock out , ko , lay out , lessen , mute , numb , paralyze , put out of order , put to sleep , quieten , reduce , repress , retard , slow , smother , soften , stifle , stun , stupefy , suppress , tire , tone down , unnerve , weaken , diminish , hebetate , kill , moderate , muffle , obtund , petrify , quiet , soothe , subdue