deafen

“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

Jamming “can blind and deafen an aircraft very quickly and very dangerously, especially if you lose GPS and radar and you’re a jet flying at 600 miles an hour.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2022

“Sirens deafen / Everything’s on fire in heaven, heaven,” she sings in what sounds like a moody lullaby.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2022

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

From Golf Digest ● Dec. 6, 2018

Then he leaned over and put a hand beside his mouth, as if he did not wish to be overheard, an effect slightly lessened by his whisper, which was loud enough to deafen.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

To recognize that the paralysis of suffering deafens us to our own emotions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2023

But indiscriminately blocking or hiding the voices of those you don’t agree with does not silence them; it only deafens you.

From Slate ● Nov. 17, 2016

A seaport, South Street or otherwise, isn’t the right place to experience Dinosaur Jr.—the band is best enjoyed in a dark, enclosed room, where you can adore it viscerally, as it deafens you.

From The New Yorker ● Jul. 14, 2014

When he blows his nose, he deafens his students, listening to his instructions through headphones.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2012

Dewey’s ears ring with it—a ringing that almost deafens him to the whispery rush of Smith’s soft voice.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Mohammad Wali said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 30, 2023

If you were deafened by Gary Cully's entrance, ears were melting when Taylor made her entrance just before 11pm in Dublin.

From BBC ● May 20, 2023

The telescope is among the most sensitive in the world at these low frequencies, but it could soon be deafened by signals emanating from a mundane source: electric trains.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 7, 2023

But if seismic survey operators benefitted from a dearth of environmental impact studies for many years, more and more research shows that marine life is silenced, deafened, subdued, and scattered by the major sonic impacts.

From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2022

Chip-toothed Sandy gave such a loud whistle that Otis Amber would have been deafened if the flaps of the aviator's helmet had not been snug against his ears.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

I’m about to dismiss this guide as a wuss when a sudden burst of deafening growls just beyond the edge of our campsite lends credence to his words.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

The deafening response suggested he’d gotten it almost right: In fact, it had been too long.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

A stadium that has rocked to the sound of protest has now returned to deafening praise.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

But the pine trees lining Krystal Polk's home, in her family for generations, don't protect her from the data center's deafening drone, which sounds like a jet that never takes off.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

The roar from the crowd was almost deafening.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely