numb 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnəm How to pronounce numb (audio)
Definition of numbnext
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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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not feeling or showing emotion years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn

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numb

2 of 2

verb

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

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.
Recent Examples of numb
Adjective
When the old man dies, her numb reaction appears caught between grief and relief, though her two adult sons show little understanding of her emotional state. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026 Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful. — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
News Channel 5 similarly reported that she was erroneously given potassium in place of numbing medication. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 The oil is mixed with garlic and soy sauce that’s been reduced with scallions and brown sugar, forming a salty-sweet elixir that delivers lip-numbing but not face-melting heat. — Warren Rojas, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
  1. numbed
  2. blank
  3. stoic
  4. dull
  5. asleep
  6. empty
  7. calm
  8. reduce
Adjective
  • When Bill’s older brother Henry (Barry Ward) finds the pianist in numbed solitude in his dingy apartment, Bill has canceled all his upcoming gigs, saying Scotty cannot be replaced.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Ingber also notes the numbed response to these strikes from much of the American public, something that, in part, may come from the routine nature of these drone strikes as something that the nation has become desensitized to dropping bombs on enemies.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of numbed
Adjective
  • Becerra’s origin story traces back to his youth in Sacramento, and a moment when a high school friend was about to throw out a blank, unused application to Stanford University.
    — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Various items are prohibited across the complex, including phones, smartwatches, recording devices, and, curiously, blank double-sided pieces of printer paper.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of blank
Adjective
  • John McKinney, 58, who leapfrogged to a second-place finish in the primaries amid a stoic, law-and-order campaign that sometimes slipped into Spencer Pratt-style dystopian imagery.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase Not everyone wants to resemble Don Draper at the office—some men prefer the stoic, rugged vibe.
    — Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of stoic
Verb
  • Some cleaners can dull the floor’s finish, cause damage, or leave streaks.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward.
    — Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Wyatt was charged again with drunken driving in May 2026 after she was found asleep at the wheel in Galveston County.
    — Isaac Yu, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The only reason to think this may be a game is if the Cowboys are asleep, and Jalon Daniels has some success running the ball.
    — Mac Engel October 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of asleep
Adjective
  • None of the ballistic missiles that slammed Kyiv overnight into Thursday were intercepted – an indicator that Patriot stocks are still empty or critically low.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Phishing email and empty ring boxes Vardon’s article was primarily about how Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on Tuesday when the team raised its first league championship banner since 1973.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • This week, curfews were imposed in some cities to help maintain calm.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also a level of anxiety about potential confrontations at the polls, but so far, local elections officials say things are calm.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of calm
Verb
  • Integrating the interceptor into existing launch infrastructure could reduce the need for extensive equipment changes.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • People can donate clean costumes and pick a new one, reducing waste and the resources and emissions required to make new ones.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduce

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nulls
numb
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Cite this Entry

“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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