Meaning & use
Nerfing
Last updated
In video games, reducing the power, effectiveness, or desirability of a character, weapon, or feature, typically to improve game balance.
See it in a sentence
The developers are nerfing the sniper rifle in the next patch because it was overpowered.
Players complained loudly after the update ended up nerfing their favorite character's abilities.
A note on using this word
The term comes from Nerf-brand foam toys, which are soft and harmless compared to real weapons, so "nerfing" something makes it similarly less dangerous or powerful.
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