Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

nerf

verb

/nɜrf/

Definition

To weaken or reduce the effectiveness of something, particularly in gaming or sports.

Examples

After the latest update, the developers decided to nerf the sniper rifle to balance gameplay.
The new rules were implemented to nerf the advantage some teams had.

Meaning

The term ‘nerf’ originally referred to foam toys, but in recent years, it has been adopted in gaming culture to describe the process of making a character, weapon, or item less powerful.