deafening

IPA/ˈdefnɪŋ/
KK[dˈɛfənɪŋ]IPA/ˈdefnɪŋ/

deafening — adjective

  • deafeningpositive
  • more deafeningcomparative
  • most deafeningsuperlative

1. so loud that it makes it very hard or impossible for a person to hear anything e

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so loud that it makes it very hard or impossible for a person to hear anything else around them

Example

The crowd's roar was so deafening that Owen could not hear his own voice.

so deafening + that-clause showing consequence

Apinya had to cover her ears when the fire alarm rang with a deafening noise.

attributive: deafening + noise / sound / roar

Common collocations
  • deafening noise
  • deafening roar
  • deafening music
  • deafening sound
  • deafening applause
  • deafening explosion
Synonyms
  • earsplitting

    more informal and dramatic, suggesting a painfully sharp loudness

  • thunderous

    suggests a deep, rumbling quality like thunder or heavy machinery

  • piercing

    emphasizes a high-pitched, sharp quality that cuts through other sounds

Antonyms
  • quiet

    opposite end of the volume scale

  • faint

    describes a sound that is barely audible

Grammar Patterns

deafening + noun

be + deafening

so deafening + that-clause

Usage Note

Commonly used both before a noun (attributive) and after a linking verb (predicative). Because the word already expresses an extreme degree, it is rarely modified by adverbs such as 'very' or 'extremely.'

Common Mistakes

The music was very deafening.
The music was deafening.
'Deafening' already means extremely loud, so adding 'very' is redundant.

2. describing a noticeable and awkward quiet that falls over a group when someone i

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a noticeable and awkward quiet that falls over a group when someone is expected to say something in reply but does not

Example

After Hari's question about the missing money, a deafening silence fell over the room.

fixed phrase: deafening silence

Roya expected cheers, but her announcement was met with a deafening lack of response.

pattern: deafening + lack of response

Common collocations
  • deafening silence
  • deafening quiet
  • deafening lack of response
Antonyms
  • vocal

    describes a situation where people are actively speaking or responding

  • responsive

    describes an audience or group that engages with questions or comments

Grammar Patterns

deafening + silence / quiet / lack of response

Usage Note

Nearly always modifies the nouns 'silence,' 'quiet,' or the phrase 'lack of response.' Using it with other nouns may confuse readers, as the literal sense will be assumed.

Common Mistakes

The room was deafening when nobody spoke.
A deafening silence fell over the room when nobody spoke.
The figurative sense of 'deafening' modifies 'silence' or 'quiet,' not a place.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe very loud sounds, but each emphasizes a different quality. Deafening focuses on the effect — a sound so powerful that normal hearing is blocked out. Earsplitting is more informal and dramatic, suggesting a painfully sharp loudness that feels as if it could split the eardrum. Thunderous describes a deep, rumbling loudness like a storm or heavy machinery rumbling in the distance. Piercing emphasizes a high-pitched, sharp quality that cuts through other noises, such as a whistle or a scream. Booming suggests a deep, resonant quality with a powerful echo, like a bass drum or a voice in a large hall. For example: the roar of a stadium crowd is deafening (you cannot hear anything else), but a referee's whistle is piercing (high-pitched and cutting). A politician's voice might be booming (deep and commanding), while distant fireworks sound thunderous (low and rolling).

deafening ↗earsplitting ↗thunderous ↗piercing ↗booming ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • absolutely deafening
  • almost deafening
  • nearly deafening

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Deafening comes from the verb 'deafen,' which was formed by adding the '-en' suffix to the adjective 'deaf' — a common way to create verbs meaning 'to make (someone) [adjective].' So 'deafen' literally means 'to make deaf.' Adding '-ing' turns this verb into an adjective meaning 'having the effect of making deaf.' The word first appeared in English around the 1500s. The figurative use — describing a noticeable silence — began in the 1800s, playing on the idea that a silence can be so powerful it feels as overwhelming as a loud noise.