Words / B2

DEFN-ing/ˈdefnɪŋ/

Deafening means extremely loud: deafening noise; a deafening roar. It also describes a very clear lack of response: a deafening silence. Loud is weaker; ear-splitting is a close twin. Calling noise deafening is not enough; quote the dB. Mix-up: deafening vs deaf; defining; do not write deafening for a quiet room labelled “awkward” unless the source uses silence.

Meaning

Extremely loud; also a very clear lack of response (a deafening silence).

Examples

• “Calling noise deafening is not enough; quote the dB, the physics paper said.”
• “A deafening silence followed the vote, which is the idiom — still name the motion.”

Good to know

deafening noise / roar / applause; a deafening silence. Close: ear-splitting / thunderous. Trap: deaf / defining. Physics, music, and citizenship. Extremely loud, or a pointed silence — quote dB or the motion.

Near in meaning

ear-splitting, thunderous, piercing

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