insensible

adjective

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

Definition of insensible

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

2a : 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

Other Words from insensible Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About insensible

Other Words from insensible

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 & Antonyms for insensible

Synonyms

Antonyms

conscious

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 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 Elder is not insensible to homelessness, and proposes to solve it by waiving California’s Environmental Quality Act, which mandates disclosure about the environmental impact of most housing developments. — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2021 The spat with Ferguson points to a potentially uncomfortable fact for Mishra, who styles himself as an outsider speaking truth to an insensible and irredeemable establishment. — Kanishk Tharoor, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2021 The sentimental, emotional bits have happened hours before, and people have just been getting sloshed, insensible and furiously frolicsome. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 10 June 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insensible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.