1. to make dull, blunt, or less sharp; to reduce the intensity or sensitivity of something
Usage: formal; medical

Examples

• The medication will obtund the patient’s pain response.
• Years of exposure to loud noise can obtund one’s hearing.
• The anesthetic serves to obtund sensation during surgery.
• Alcohol tends to obtund reflexes and judgment.
• The doctor prescribed drops to obtund the eye’s sensitivity to light.
• Chronic stress may obtund emotional responses over time.