as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
groupthink and peer pressure have so petrified the thinking of the company's top brass that they haven't produced an innovative product in years
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Recent Examples of petrify
When North Korea tested a ballistic missile in 2009, the public was petrified at first but quickly lost interest.
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Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2012
People were petrified of being rendered obsolete and losing their jobs.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Danvers is a person that has absolutely frozen herself, petrified herself, hardened herself.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
It was famously said to have been rated R simply for being so scary, and James Wan petrifies us with little more than hands clapping.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 6 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for petrify 
Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2012
People were petrified of being rendered obsolete and losing their jobs.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Danvers is a person that has absolutely frozen herself, petrified herself, hardened herself.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
It was famously said to have been rated R simply for being so scary, and James Wan petrifies us with little more than hands clapping.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 6 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for petrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petrify
Verb
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This is all designed to undermine future competitions.Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
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In recent months, U.S., British, German and other European officials have accused Russia of organizing an increasingly aggressive sabotage campaign aimed at undermining and disrupting Western assistance to Ukraine.Tom Costello, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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This approach is exhausting and drains the limited willpower we are meant to conserve.Shane Enete, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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During testing, the charger’s battery was drained to half after just an hour of being plugged into a smartphone, and the phone itself was only powered to around 60 percent battery.Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
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From the very first frame of a new episode of Hot Ones Versus, Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor is gasping for breath from behind his trademark mask, which looks like either a desiccating corpse or a wasp’s nest with dreadlocks.Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024
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Scientists have reported feeling shock and loss with each consecutive return to the Great Barrier Reef, as new expanses of coral bleach and desiccate.Eve Andrews, The Atlantic, 26 Sep. 2024
Verb
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The divisive race has left Americans exhausted and on edge, Sonoma State Political Science Professor David McCuan said.Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Javonte Williams, Running Back Williams, 24, came to Denver with high expectations after the team exhausted a second-round pick on the North Carolina product back in 2021.Vincent Frank, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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It’s made with an oil extracted from orange peels that kills plants—including lawn grasses—by dehydrating their blades and leaves.Kate Puhala, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2024
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Summary Drinking tea that contains caffeine, particularly in moderation, likely isn't dehydrating.Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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This relationship, when successful, tends to enervate mediating institutions that thwart the immediate desires of both the populist leader and the public.Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 28 Feb. 2021
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The saving grace of this often enervating thriller is that Doscher grants time for his actors to build character and intimacy, and both Pinto and Odom offer warm, affectingly natural performances as two people facing the end of their world.Teo Bugbee, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2020
Verb
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In 1952, Turing was prosecuted for homosexual acts, a criminal offense at the time, and chose to be chemically castrated instead of serving prison time.Carlie Porterfield, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
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According to the memorandum and witness testimony, Clark attempted to castrate herself in her cell.Kaitlyn Pohly, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near petrify
Cite this Entry
“Petrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petrify. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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