· the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

Synonym(s): stultification, constipation, impairment

Hypernym(s): degradation, debasement

· make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible; "muffle the message"

Synonym(s): dampen, damp

Hypernym(s): dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break

· cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients; "girdle the plant"

Synonym(s): girdle

Hypernym(s): incise

· make vapid or deprive of spirit; "deadened wine"

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

· lessen the momentum or velocity of; "deaden a ship's headway"

Hypernym(s): retard

· become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor

Hypernym(s): change

· make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation; "Terror blunted her feelings"; "deaden a sound"

Synonym(s): blunt

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

Antonym(s): enliven

· convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil

Hypernym(s): convert

· so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness; "a boring evening with uninteresting people"; "the deadening effect of some routine tasks"; "a dull play"; "his competent but dull performance"; "a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention"; "what an irksome task the writing of long letters is"- Edmund Burke; "tedious days on the train"; "the tiresome chirping of a cricket"- Mark Twain; "other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome"

Synonym(s): boring, dull, ho-hum, irksome, slow, tedious, tiresome, wearisome