insensible

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce insensible (audio)
1
: incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation: such as
a
: lacking sensory perception or ability to react
insensible to pain
b
: unconscious
knocked insensible by a sudden blow
c
: not endowed with life or spirit : insentient
insensible earth
2
a
: unaware
insensible of their danger
b
: lacking emotional response : apathetic, indifferent
insensible to fear
3
: not intelligible : meaningless
4
: imperceptible
dampened by an insensible dew
broadly : slight, gradual
insensible motion
5
: lacking delicacy or refinement
6
archaic : stupid, senseless
insensibleness noun
insensibly adverb

Examples of insensible in a Sentence

She was knocked insensible by the collision. if a choking person is insensible, you should lay them down on their back before performing the Heimlich maneuver
Recent Examples on the Web Or lobbyists can sometimes intervene and gain insensible exemptions from bans. IEEE Spectrum, 10 Feb. 2024 But the Cylinder Sling by Building Block flirts with such attitude without becoming rude or insensible. Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The novel positions him as insensible to agendas, hopelessly subject to the whims of the altruistic and the cruel. Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022 Armando Iannucci’s brilliant 2017 farce, The Death of Stalin, explores that question on a literal plane, with Stalin’s deputies frantically maneuvering for position while Stalin, not yet entirely dead, lies insensible and unattended on the floor. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Apr. 2022 Combat troops get inured to death, but Yaroslav’s comrades seemed to me beyond inured, insensible. New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 Being sick also can lead to insensible fluid loss, such as sweating from fever or blowing your nose, Rosner says, while vomiting or diarrhea can exacerbate fluid loss. Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021 Over the next several hundred pages, naïve and self-deceiving Russ remains insensible to the desires of his wife Marion, who makes plans to reunite with her old flame and rediscover her old, uninhibited self. Merve Emre, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2021 Through some accidental sorcery involving a spreadsheet, Gerald has transferred his consciousness into the app, leaving his insensible body behind in his apartment. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insensible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin insensibilis, from in- + sensibilis sensible

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of insensible was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near insensible

Cite this Entry

“Insensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insensible. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

insensible

adjective
in·​sen·​si·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce insensible (audio)
1
: imperceptible sense 1
insensible motion
2
a
: not endowed with life or spirit : inanimate sense 1
b
: unconscious entry 1 sense 2
knocked insensible by the accident
c
: not able to feel or be aware of using a sense or senses
insensible to pain
3
: not aware of or caring about something
insensible to fear
insensible of their danger
insensibly adverb

Medical Definition

insensible

adjective
in·​sen·​si·​ble -ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce insensible (audio)
1
: incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation: as
a
: unconscious
knocked insensible by a sudden blow
b
: lacking sensory perception or ability to react
insensible to pain
c
: lacking emotional response : apathetic
2
: not perceived by the senses
insensible perspiration
insensibility noun
plural insensibilities

More from Merriam-Webster on insensible

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