deafening
Painfully, overwhelmingly loud
Deafening describes sound so loud it overwhelms hearing—a deafening roar, deafening applause.
The word is nearly always hyperbolic; truly deafening noise would cause hearing damage.
Paradoxically, deafening silence describes an absence of sound so conspicuous it feels overwhelming.
Extremely loud, resounding
- roaringMaking prolonged loud noise
- blaringHarshly loud
- boomingExperiencing rapid growth
- cacophonousHarsh and jarring
resounding · clamorous · raucous · uproarious · fortissimo · din · clangor · decibels
Violent burst of energy
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- jetForced fluid stream
- sirenWailing alert device
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
blast · horn · jackhammer · gunshot · fireworks · engine · stadium · concert
Penetrating or very sharp
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
- screamingLoud, shrill vocalizing
- screechingMaking harsh high sounds
- shrillHigh-pitched and harsh
howling · wailing · squealing · whistling · blasting · jarring · grating · harsh
Intensely excessive in force
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- all-consumingDemanding total attention
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
numbing · stunning · paralyzing · oppressive · suffocating · crushing · staggering
thunderous
Extremely loud, resounding
cacophonous · resounding · clamorous · raucous · uproarious · fortissimo · din · clangor · decibels · sonic
explosion
Violent burst of energy
roar · blast · horn · jackhammer · gunshot · fireworks · engine · stadium · concert · factory
piercing
Penetrating or very sharp
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
- screamingLoud, shrill vocalizing
- screechingMaking harsh high sounds
shrill · howling · wailing · squealing · whistling · blasting · jarring · grating · harsh · discordant
overwhelming
Intensely excessive in force
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- all-consumingDemanding total attention
inescapable · numbing · stunning · paralyzing · oppressive · suffocating · crushing · staggering
- drowning outmuffling, masking, silencing, muting, overpowering
- crowd adjectivespacked, dense, massive, huge, enormous
- loud soundsloud, scream, yell, thunderous, screaming
- volumecubic meters, bulk, cubic feet, quantity, cubic inches
- ___ silencedeathly, eerie, awkward, uncomfortable, stunned
- torturerack, the rack, thumbscrew, thumbscrews, iron maiden
- deafening silenceConspicuous lack of sound
- deafening roarOverwhelmingly loud sound