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

unresponsively adverb

staring unresponsively

unresponsiveness noun

Examples of unresponsive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time members of the Southampton Town Police, Volunteer Ambulance, Fire Department and Marine Patrol arrived at the scene, the kayaker was bringing Paolasin's unresponsive body to the shore, police told The Southampton Press. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Six adults and a child were rescued from the water, but three children recovered from the lake after an intensive search were unresponsive to exhaustive lifesaving measures administered as soon as they were found, police said. — Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

When authorities arrived, crews found one individual unresponsive, the fire department said. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 July 2026

The two victims were taken to a hospital, where the unresponsive victim died, authorities said. — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unresponsive

• nonresponsive
• responsive

Medical 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