deafening

Everyday

1. A deafening noise is extremely loud, so loud you can hardly hear anything else. tree →
2. (idiom) A deafening silence is a silence that is very noticeable, for example when people refuse to answer. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, deafening noises are thunder, cheering crowds, explosions or music: they tell the reader the sound is overwhelming. In science and health, very loud sounds (measured in decibels) can damage hearing — use ear defenders. Phrases: «a deafening roar», «deafening applause», «deafening silence».

Examples

• The thunder was deafening. tree →
• The crowd's cheer was deafening when we scored. tree →
• The music at the concert was deafening, so we wore earplugs. tree →
• After the teacher's question there was a deafening silence. tree →
• The fire alarm made a deafening ring. tree →
• A jet engine is deafening up close. tree →
• He, however, convinced them that there was no pig there, and then the applause was deafening. tree →

Note

Adjective from the verb deafen (to make deaf). Use it for sounds, not for people. A deafening silence is a figure of speech: the silence itself is not loud.