comatose

adjective

co·​ma·​tose ˈkō-mə-ˌtōs  ˈkä- 

1

: of, resembling, or affected with coma

The patient lay comatose, sustained by respirators.

2

: characterized by lethargic inertness : torpid

a comatose economy

Broadway was theatrically comatose that summer.

Synonyms of comatose

• slow
• sleepy
• dead

Examples of comatose in a Sentence

She lay in a comatose state.

the city's downtown has been comatose for years

Recent Examples on the Web

When a nurse is trapped with her comatose patient amid the storm, both become hunted by the ruthless Highstrom. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Goldstein was comatose and had been placed on a ventilator after pneumonia overwhelmed her lungs. — John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

On the third day of hospitalization, the man became comatose and was intubated, the report stated. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026

Vargas Arellano was in a hospital, brain-dead and comatose for a week before ICE released him, and had contracted COVID-19 at the facility, according to his family and their lawyers, who are suing GEO Group over his death. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French comateux, from Greek kōmat-, kōma — see coma entry 1

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for comatose

• adios
• adipose
• amylose
• bellicose
• cellulose
• centavos
• diagnose
• grandiose
• granulose
• levulose
• overdose
• ribulose

Medical Definition

comatose

adjective

co·​ma·​tose ˈkō-mə-ˌtōs  ˈkäm-ə- 

: of, resembling, or affected with coma

a comatose patient

a comatose condition