Thing that deadens impact (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: BUFFER (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Thing that deadens impact" with 6 letters is "BUFFER".A buffer is a material or device that absorbs or mitigates the impact of forces, reducing the shock or damage that might otherwise occur. In various contexts, buffers are used to cushion, soften, or slow down the effect of collisions or impacts.
Why “Buffer” Fits
Thing that deadens impact: “Buffer” is the standard noun for a device or object that absorbs shock and reduces the force of a collision, so it directly matches “thing that deadens impact.” General and learners’ dictionaries define a buffer as “a device or material that reduces shock or damage due to contact” or “a cushion-like device that absorbs the force of a collision,” which is exactly what the clue describes.
A Bit of Background
“Buffer” is used both literally for physical impact and figuratively for protection:
Literal use:
- In engineering and transport, buffers are found on trains, bumpers, fenders, and end-of-track stops, where they absorb the energy of a moving vehicle and deaden the impact.
- Children’s dictionaries explicitly gloss a buffer as “a device, such as a bumper, that absorbs the force of a collision,” listing similar words like “cushion,” “fender,” “pad,” “shield,” and “shock absorber.”
Figurative use:
By extension, a buffer is anything that reduces or softens an adverse effect—a financial buffer, an emotional buffer, or a buffer state between rival countries.
Crossword Solving Insight
For a quick crossword clue like “Thing that deadens impact (6)”:
- Definition match: “Thing that deadens impact” is a plain-English paraphrase of the core dictionary definition of buffer as an object that absorbs shock or lessens the impact of a blow or collision.
- Enumeration: BUFFER is exactly six letters, fitting the (6) pattern; alternatives such as “bumper” or “cushion” might appear in other grids, but BUFFER is the most generic technical term for an impact-deadening device.
- Grid friendliness: The common letters and clear meaning make BUFFER a classic crossword choice whenever the setter wants a concise answer for “shock absorber” or “impact-reducing device.”
Those factors—precise meaning, exact length, and strong dictionary support—make BUFFER an ideal, textbook answer to “Thing that deadens impact (6).
