Fall On Deaf Ears Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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fall on deaf ears

idiomatic phrase

sometimes offensive : to fail to be heard : to be ignored Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. see usage paragraph at deaf entry 1

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler The first known use of fall on deaf ears was in 1838 See more words from the same year

Rhymes for fall on deaf ears

• charioteers
• milliamperes
• adheres
• amirs
• appears
• arrears
• careers
• cashiers
• compeers
• emirs
• fakirs
• frontiers

See All Rhymes for fall on deaf ears

Browse Nearby Words

fall on fall on deaf ears fall on one's face See all Nearby Words

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“Fall on deaf ears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%20on%20deaf%20ears. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

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Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Definition revised Love words? Need even more definitions?

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