adj

deafening

DEH-fuh-nihng

adj

So loud it seems to overwhelm the ability to hear anything else.

"The explosion was deafening."

"There was a deafening silence after he made the announcement."

How to Use Deafening

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExtremely loud, or (used ironically) an extremely noticeable silence.

Common pairings

deafening roar deafening silence deafening applause

more deafening comparative, deafenings plural, most deafening superlative

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The explosion was _____.

evening opening widening awakening happening weakening maddening listening gardening sickening fattening screening