lobotomizing
Cutting neural connections
Lobotomizing is performing a lobotomy—a surgical procedure that severs connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe.
Once used to treat mental illness, the procedure fell out of favor for its devastating effects on personality and cognition.
Figuratively, lobotomizing describes anything that dulls the mind or removes critical thinking: Social media is lobotomizing an entire generation.
Before the frontal lobe
- leucotomyPrefrontal nerve-severing procedure
- icepickPointed tool for chipping frozen water
- transorbitalThrough the eye socket
- FreemanName denoting unfettered status
psychiatric · neurosurgery · incision · severing · white matter · frontal lobe · asylum · institutionalized
Causing loss of sensation
- deadeningLessening intensity or sensitivity
- dullingRemoving keenness or luster
- zombifyingMaking into walking dead
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
sedating · suppressing · personality · emotions · will · autonomy · docile · compliant
Savagely cruel, uncivilized
- inhumaneCallously causing suffering
- unethicalViolating moral standards
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
- controversialCausing public dispute
discredited · archaic · horrific · brutal · experimental · coercive · involuntary · victimizing
Removing internal organs
- sanitizingEliminating harmful microorganisms
- neuteringSurgical sterilization of animals
- dumbing downMaking content less challenging
- censoringRemoving objectionable content
sterilizing · defanging · watering down · bowdlerizing · simplifying · stripping · creativity · originality
prefrontal
Before the frontal lobe
- leucotomyPrefrontal nerve-severing procedure
- icepickPointed tool for chipping frozen water
- transorbitalThrough the eye socket
Freeman · psychiatric · neurosurgery · incision · severing · white matter · frontal lobe · asylum · institutionalized · procedure
numbing
Causing loss of sensation
- deadeningLessening intensity or sensitivity
- dullingRemoving keenness or luster
- zombifyingMaking into walking dead
pacifying · sedating · suppressing · personality · emotions · will · autonomy · docile · compliant · vacant
barbaric
Savagely cruel, uncivilized
- inhumaneCallously causing suffering
- unethicalViolating moral standards
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
controversial · discredited · archaic · horrific · brutal · experimental · coercive · involuntary · victimizing · abusive
gutting
Removing internal organs
- sanitizingEliminating harmful microorganisms
- neuteringSurgical sterilization of animals
- dumbing downMaking content less challenging
censoring · sterilizing · defanging · watering down · bowdlerizing · simplifying · stripping · creativity · originality · edge
lobotomizinghealing
Restoration of health
restoring · rehabilitating · enhancing · preserving · protecting
lobotomizingenlightening
Providing new understanding
awakening · stimulating · energizing · inspiring · educating