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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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
Michael Harley, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
This cohort was numb to the reality that digital addiction was accompanied by anxiety and depression.
—Bill Bergman, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
April September March July Which president was the first to skip his successor’s swearing-in?
Millard Filmore
John Adams
John Quincy Adams
Donald Trump
Which vice president was drunk during his inauguration (having imbibed whiskey to numb the pain from typhoid fever) and slurred his oath?
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for numb 
Adjective
There is a body roll, and the steering feedback is numb.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
This cohort was numb to the reality that digital addiction was accompanied by anxiety and depression.
—Bill Bergman, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
The late-game chaos led only to another loss and more numbing pain.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
April September March July Which president was the first to skip his successor’s swearing-in?
Millard Filmore
John Adams
John Quincy Adams
Donald Trump
Which vice president was drunk during his inauguration (having imbibed whiskey to numb the pain from typhoid fever) and slurred his oath?
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
-
Despite Camille being reduced to an inanimate object that can do little more than sit with a blank look in her eyes, her conversations with her overbearing mother don’t change that much.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Starting as a completely white room filled with blank objects, visitors are invited to place colorful dot stickers anywhere in the space.—
Rhett Power,
Rolling Stone,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
As his attorney wrapped up a marathon closing argument Monday, former House Speaker Michael Madigan sat stoic at the defense table, gazing at the jury with his usual legal pad and pencil at the ready.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Oscar, older and more outwardly stoic, has no guarantees.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
For a few moments, the noise from the notorious Philadelphia crowd — explosive and energetic and packed to the gills in its finest all-weather gear — dulled.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
-
By the early Seventies injuries would begin to take a heavy toll on Law, the mind was still sharp, but the lightning reflexes had been dulled and the goals no longer came so easily.—
Sam Pilger,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Once the clock strikes 12, much of the TV audience is asleep, especially older viewers who make up the bulk of the news audience.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
-
This way, her team could get a fairly precise idea about the brain fluid dynamics when mice were awake and asleep.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The food safety manager certificate was not available and paper towel dispensers near two hand sinks were empty.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
31 Jan. 2025
-
But that Fiennes mantle is as empty as St. Peter’s Square in a thunderstorm.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Current conditions are more favorable, with calmer winds allowing the fire department’s helicopters to carry out water drops throughout the night, Kelliher said.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The multicolored stone walls that encompass the wood-burning feature are carried over from the great room to the kitchen as well as other parts of the house, providing a calm cohesiveness.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Working with a sliding scale provider, as mentioned above, is another great way to reduce costs.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
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Princess Anne has no plans to reduce her royal duties as her peers reach retirement age.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s when Dolphins must sell themselves as an organization that isn’t bleeding out, and is a franchise headed in the right direction to an apathetic fan base that patiently waits to see the desperate moves the pair makes in 2025.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2025
-
He's brought a lot of guys in that previous teams, and fan bases, were glad to see leave, or apathetic about their departures.—
Pierre LeBrun,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near numb
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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