Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Made unable to hear well or at all: Describes a state of having one's hearing significantly impaired or lost, typically as a result of exposure to a very loud noise or a specific event.

Usage

The adjective "deafened" is used to describe a person or, less commonly, an animal whose hearing has been damaged, usually temporarily, by a sudden, intense sound. It emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship: a loud event resulted in the hearing loss. - It is often used with verbs like "was," "were," "felt," or "left." - Example: The explosion left him deafened for several hours.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The concertgoers were deafened by the amplified music.
  • She emerged from the factory, temporarily deafened by the constant roar of the machinery.
  • The sudden blast of the ship's horn deafened the crew on the deck. (Here, "deafened" functions as a verb in the past tense, showing the action that caused the state.)

Advanced Usage

• "deafened by": This is the most common construction, specifying the cause of the hearing impairment.
  • The audience was deafened by the finale of the fireworks display.
• Used to describe a metaphorical state of being overwhelmed by non-auditory stimuli (figurative use).
  • He was deafened by the roar of criticism following his announcement.

Variants and Related Words

• Deafen (verb): To make someone deaf or cause a temporary hearing loss.
  • The noise will deafen you if you don't wear ear protection.
• Deafening (adjective): Extremely loud.
  • The crowd's cheer was deafening.
• Deafness (noun): The condition of being unable to hear.

Synonyms

• Hearing-impaired: Having reduced or deficient hearing ability (a more general and often permanent term).
• Stunned (in the context of sound): Temporarily confused or dazed by a loud noise, which may include a temporary hearing loss.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(While "deafened" itself is not typically part of a phrasal verb, it is central to causative constructions.) - To deafen someone to something: To make someone ignore or be insensitive to something, often through constant exposure (figurative). - Years of bureaucracy had deafened him to the pleas of the citizens.

Related Idioms

• Deafening silence: A silence that is very noticeable and profound, often implying discomfort, disapproval, or anticipation.
  • After he asked the difficult question, a deafening silence fell over the room.

Adjective

1. caused to hear poorly or not at all