1
as in numbed
lacking in sensation or feeling
I've been sitting in the same position for too long and now my feet are numb
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
apparently in shock, he answered the police officer's questions with a numb expression on his face
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3
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion
years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn
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as in to dull
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
wait for the medication to numb your mouth
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of numb
Meg Anderson, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Truth #10: Parts of your body could be numb for several months—or more.
—Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 Mar. 2025
Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2025
Infused with menthol, these drops work quickly to numb the throat and open nasal passages.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
These reactions – feeling numb or hyper alert – are signs of chronic stress, and adults at their high school took note.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Truth #10: Parts of your body could be numb for several months—or more.
—Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
During your appointment, the healthcare professional will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area.
—Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2025
Infused with menthol, these drops work quickly to numb the throat and open nasal passages.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
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Think of it as the blank canvas of carbonated drinks.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Newport and her production crew have taken this blank canvas and created a spectacular world for the two characters.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And finally… Win as a team, lose as a team, or so the saying goes, but stoic camaraderie is asking a lot of Real Valladolid.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Both fascinating and infuriating, Henry Fonda for President, by Austrian filmmaker Alexander Horwath, examines the dark-browed, blue-eyed stoic Hollywood actor Henry Fonda as more politically significant than his infamously radical daughter, Jane.—
Armond White,
National Review,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His failure to contend in that or any subsequent majors became a big storyline: Had Rahm’s move to LIV dulled his competitive edge?—
Sam Settleman,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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The intentionally half-baked approach to Season 2 foreshadows an overstuffed and potentially controversial third season, the emotional effect of which will be dulled by the likely long hiatus (Season 1 premiered in January 2023).—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Most residents in the beachfront luxury condominium at Surfside were asleep in their beds when their 12-story residential building shuddered and then collapsed, pinning sleeping residents between the heavy concrete slabs of each floor.—
Bruce Strom,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2025
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Screaming for help Most people in the Plum Bay neighborhood were asleep before dawn on Sunday, Feb. 16.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine nearly every seat in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center − over 20,000 seats − are empty.—
Kymberlee Montgomery,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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On a rainy morning, the restaurant, made up of a few four-seat tables leading to the stage area, was mostly empty.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The sulfur and salicylic acid calm things down without stripping my skin, and there’s even charcoal and bentonite clay to go even deeper and pull out gunk.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
6 Apr. 2025
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Tsunoda came into the weekend with fairly calm expectations, saying that a Q3 appearance and points return would be a good start.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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This has, among other losses, reduced Egyptian revenue from the Suez Canal by about eight hundred million dollars a month.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There are corners of the fan base who entered apathetic about the whole thing.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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These kinds of policies cultivate students who rely on their schools to shield them from the natural consequences of their poor choices, and enable apathetic, unmotivated students to remain apathetic and unmotivated.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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