insensible

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 

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

insensibility

(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

insensibleness

(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

insensibly

(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• cold
• senseless
• unconscious

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

Also invited, for insensible reasons, is Neville’s first wife, Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland), blond to Kay’s brunette, for easy identification. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025

The ‘real’ Camille, meanwhile, has become an insensible, comatose carcass, although no one seems to notice. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025

Foreman tumbled downward in a dizzy, slow-motion-like crash, full-weight, a helpless giant, insensible. —Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025

The ‘real’ Camille, meanwhile, has become an insensible, comatose carcass, although no one seems to notice. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025

Foreman tumbled downward in a dizzy, slow-motion-like crash, full-weight, a helpless giant, insensible. —Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for insensible

• sensible
• compensable
• condensable
• defensible
• dispensable
• extensible
• ostensible
• comprehensible
• indefensible
• indispensable
• reprehensible
• supersensible

Kids Definition

insensible

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 

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

insensibility

(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

insensibly

-ˈsen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

Medical Definition

insensible

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​ble -ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 

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

(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural insensibilities