numbness

noun

Definition of numbnessnext
as in apathy
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness the prisoner exhibited the numbness of someone who had spent more years behind bars than he could remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for numbness
  1. apathy
  2. phlegm
  3. detachment
Noun
  • Image The cheeky line was a foil for her postpartum depression, which manifested in a potent mix of self-loathing, apathy for her son and rage toward her husband.
    Maggie Lange, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Life-giving energy inspires innovation and trust, while draining energy creates climates of stress and apathy.
    Susanne Biro, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of apathy
Noun
  • Even when Rode joined the force in the year 2000, masks weren't necessarily the norm, and firefighters would cough up black phlegm in the days after a fire.
    Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Cannabis may act as an expectorant, helping to clear phlegm from the lungs and throat.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Definition of phlegm
Noun
  • That means, especially, maintaining our detachment of forces in eastern Syria.
    Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The World Health Organization defines burnout as a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, detachment, and feelings of ineffectiveness.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of detachment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near numbness

numbing

numbness

numbs

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Cite this Entry

“Numbness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numbness. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on numbness

Nglish: Translation of numbness for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of numbness for Arabic Speakers

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