nerf
To bump lightly, whether accidentally or purposefullyTo bump lightly, whether accidentally or purposefully.
» Mary found the game too challenging, so she hoped they would nerf the difficult boss fight.
Мері гра здалася занадто складною, тому вона сподівалася, що вони зменшать складність непростої битви зі босом.
Meaning
3 senses(transitive)To bump lightly, whether accidentally or purposefully.
A racer will often nerf another as a psychological tactic.
(slang, transitive)To change a mechanic, an ability, or a character in a video game in order to make less efficacious.
The lightning spell was originally pretty powerful, but in the sequel they nerfed it so it became completely useless.
(slang, transitive)To arbitrarily limit or reduce the capability of.
nerfen
не́рфитьnérfitʹ, поне́рфитьponérfitʹ
Examples
5 sentencesMary found the game too challenging, so she hoped they would nerf the difficult boss fight.
Мері гра здалася занадто складною, тому вона сподівалася, що вони зменшать складність непростої битви зі босом. — deniko
This enemy is too hard, it should be nerfed.
Bruno shot a Nerf gun at Isabella.
The developers have nerfed the Ice Sword. It does less damage now.
Where's the Nerf guns I lent you? I need them for the next zombie apocalypse.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Circa 1950s? From the Nerf brand of toys designed as non-dangerous counterparts of existiCirca 1950s?
From the Nerf brand of toys designed as non-dangerous counterparts of existing things, such as sports balls and guns. Originally used to equate a change in the damage of a weapon in a video game to a change from real weapons to Nerf weapons.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
nerfs, nerfing, nerfed, nerfedSynonyms
8 synonymsAntonyms
6 antonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle