numb

1 of 2

adjective

1
: unable to feel anything in a particular part of your body especially as a result of cold or anesthesia
It was so cold that my fingers went numb.
2
: unable to think, feel, or react normally because of something that shocks or upsets you : indifferent
He stood there numb with fear.
numbly adverb
numbness noun

numb

2 of 2

verb

numbed; numbing

transitive verb

: to make (someone or something) numb: such as
a
: to cause (a part of the body) to lose sensation
hands numbed by the cold
The injection will numb the area to be operated on.
b
: to impair in force or sensation : deaden
trying to numb the pain
c
: to make (someone) unable to think, feel, or react normally
But there is no humor in Natural Born Killers. It is a relentlessly bloody story designed to shock us and to numb us further to the senselessness of reckless murder.Michael Shnayerson
In her last book, Regarding the Pain of Others, Susan Sontag disputes the notion that viewers are numbed by an onslaught of photographed calamities.Dennis Lim
But Madame Melmotte was neither crushed by grief nor did she affect to be so crushed. She had been numbed by the suddenness and by the awe of the catastrophe.Anthony Trolloppe

Examples of numb in a Sentence

Adjective The side of my face was still numb an hour after the surgery. I had a numb feeling in my toes. It was so cold that my fingers went numb. A stroke can cause one side of your body to go numb. Her son had died and she just felt numb. He stood there numb with fear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That is, except for the team behind The Zone of Interest, a film about how people can become numb to atrocities happening right in front of them. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 Entering the house made his tongue and lips go numb. Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2024 In one scene, Ivo injects herself with painkillers intended for a patient, so as to feel numb. Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 None of her answers paint an optimistic portrait: Her feet are numb from severe lymphedema, and her family struggles with her love for alcohol (and her clear unwillingness to change any of the habits that could be killing her). Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 In other words, cough pearls numb your airways to calm the cough reflex. Ayana Underwood, SELF, 7 Feb. 2024 Should your skin turn blue or gray, is very swollen, blistered or feels hard and numb even under the surface, go to a hospital as soon as possible. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Jan. 2024 With its patented arm tunnel systems, this marvel of sleep technology addresses the common issues of shoulder pain and numb arms during sleep, ensuring a restful and rejuvenating night's sleep. Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024 No matter the date, thousands across the country might raise their cones to the sentiment — even if their fingertips are numb from the cold. Emily Heil, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
Verb
The horror cuts through so much numbing, routine splitting. Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024 Firstly, numbing drops are given to the patient to ensure comfort during the test. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 His most recent major triumph, at the 2022 French Open, came on a painful left foot that needed to be numbed with multiple injections. Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024 The days and weeks afterward were a numbing march of grieving rituals. Amy Qin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 And although the Hornets won’t catch the Grizzlies in that department given the season-ending situations of South Carolina native Ja Morant and big man Steven Adams, the numbing nature of the non-stop revolving door heading into the training camp is dizzying. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 There can be no other political association attached to it after the numbing scrutiny thrust onto it—first after Martin’s murder, again during the protests of 2020, and once more after that, on the tenth anniversary of Martin’s death. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 25 Jan. 2024 People in Auschwitz had to numb themselves quite severely in order to get through that experience. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023 The most famous is mala, which electrifies with its combination of spicy chiles and numbing, tingly Sichuan pepper. Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'numb.' 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

Adjective

Middle English nomme, nomyn "unable to move, paralyzed," literally "taken (by sickness, cold, paralysis, etc.)," from past participle of nimen "to take" — more at nimble

Verb

derivative of numb entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1561, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near numb

Cite this Entry

“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numb. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

numb

1 of 2 adjective
ˈnəm
1
: lacking in sensation especially from cold or from an anesthetic
2
: lacking in emotion : indifferent
numbly adverb
numbness noun

numb

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become numb

Medical Definition

numb

adjective
: devoid of sensation (as from the administration of anesthesia or exposure to cold)
numb transitive verb
Arm or leg surgery, even total hip replacements, now can be performed with regional anesthesia, which numbs only the area being operated upon. Marilyn Chase, The Wall Street Journal

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