unresponsive
adjective
un·re·spon·sive
ˌən-ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 
: not responsive
The patient was unresponsive.
an infection unresponsive to antibiotics
an unresponsive bureaucracy
Although they are able to locate their own food at two weeks of age, fledgling robins will still piteously beg handouts from their increasingly unresponsive father.—
Millard H. Sharp
Millard H. Sharp
unresponsively
adverb
staring unresponsively
unresponsiveness
noun
Examples of unresponsive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The campaign’s press operation was highly unorganized and largely unresponsive until the final stretch.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
The 2014 report, which included vivid descriptions of unresponsive prisoners after waterboarding and others chained from bars in stress positions for long periods of time, shocked many but did not move Cheney.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
First responders found Vargas unresponsive and she was later pronounced dead.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
According to a 911 call made by Naroditsky’s friend, the late player was found unresponsive at home after last hearing from him roughly 24 hours prior.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unresponsive
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Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
The 2014 report, which included vivid descriptions of unresponsive prisoners after waterboarding and others chained from bars in stress positions for long periods of time, shocked many but did not move Cheney.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
First responders found Vargas unresponsive and she was later pronounced dead.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
According to a 911 call made by Naroditsky’s friend, the late player was found unresponsive at home after last hearing from him roughly 24 hours prior.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unresponsive
Cite this Entry
“Unresponsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unresponsive. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
unresponsive
adjective
un·re·spon·sive
ˌən-ri-ˈspän(t)-siv
: not responsive (as to a stimulus or treatment)
an unresponsive ulcer
unresponsiveness
noun
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