Definitions For Nerf

Etymology 1

Circa 1950s?

Verb

(motor racing, transitive) To bump lightly, whether accidentally or purposefully. : A racer will often nerf another as a psychological tactic.

Derived terms

nerf bar nerf ball nerf net

Etymology 2

From the 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.

Verb

(transitive, slang, video games) To change a mechanic, an ability or a character in a video game in order to make a previously dominant strategy less viable or less effective. : : The lightning spell was originally pretty powerful, but in the sequel they nerfed it so it became completely useless. (transitive, slang) To arbitrarily limit or reduce the capability of.

Synonyms

debuff, worsen, deteriorate, cripple, declaw, defang, degenerate

Antonyms

ameliorate, buff (game slang), improve, renew, renovate, revamp

Derived terms

stealth nerf

Translations

French: nerfer German: nerfen Italian: nerfare Japanese: ナーフ (nāfu) Spanish: nerfear Turkish: nerflemek

Noun

NERF (plural NERFs) (slang, video games) The deterioration, weakening or worsening of a character, a weapon, a spell, etc.

Anagrams

Fern, fern, fren, fren'