stupor

noun

stu·por | \ ˈstü-pər

, ˈstyü-\

Definition of stupor

1 : a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility a drunken stupor specifically : a chiefly mental condition marked by absence of spontaneous movement, greatly diminished responsiveness to stimulation, and usually impaired consciousness

2 : a state of extreme apathy or torpor resulting often from stress or shock : daze

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Choose the Right Synonym for stupor

lethargy, languor, lassitude, stupor, torpor mean physical or mental inertness. lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs. months of lethargy followed my accident languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love. languor induced by a tropical vacation lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health. a depression marked by lassitude stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants. lapsed into an alcoholic stupor torpor implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness. a once alert mind now in a torpor

Examples of stupor in a Sentence

He fell into a drunken stupor. in a stupor of fatigue

Recent Examples on the Web

These laws came from the Prohibition Era fear that couples were getting married while under hazy alcoholic stupors. — Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana was a scandalous marriage mill and Valentino took advantage," 4 July 2019 His drinking precipitously descends from country-club conviviality to solitary stupor, and the novel ends with his suicide by carbon-monoxide inhalation in his Cadillac, a clean, modern way to go. — Jamie James, WSJ, "‘John O’Hara: Four Novels of the 1930s’ Review: Big Fish in Small Towns," 3 Jan. 2019 The goal appeared to wake Argentina from its Russian stupor. — Matthew Futterman And Andrew Das, New York Times, "Argentina Finds World Cup Salvation in Thriller Over Nigeria," 27 June 2018 But art’s job — like walking into a field of a million dandelions — is presumably to wake us up from that stupor. — New York Times, "This Artist Foresaw Our Digital Future in a Meadow of Dandelions," 21 June 2018 People start identifying you as that grown adult woman who comes to social functions, camps out in a creepy stupor beside the snack table, then leaves without talking to anyone in a cloud of bad breath and shame and stomach pain. — Hilary Cadigan, Bon Appetit, "Love, Thy Name Is Slow-Roasted Onion Dip," 2 June 2018 Wolff's Peter might be sitting in class, staring into space as the weight of the movie’s events crush him into a stupor, and the audience can’t help but feel sympathy, guilt, and above all, fear. — Jacob Oller, The Hollywood Reporter, "How 'Hereditary' Flips Steven Spielberg's Trademark Shot," 10 June 2018 There are a lot of ways to read Nancy’s hesitation, and Riseborough quietly, maddeningly suggests each one of them in turn, each time forcing us to reconsider the urge to shake her out of her stupor. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Andrea Riseborough brings complexity to an emotional void in the melancholic 'Nancy'," 7 June 2018 She was played indelibly by Louise Lasser, who made Mary’s stupor of detachment both pathetic and funny. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Why Mary Hartman shouldn’t be forgotten," 21 May 2018

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

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Last Updated

10 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for stupor

The first known use of stupor was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for stupor

stupor

noun

English Language Learners Definition of stupor

: a condition in which someone is not able to think normally because of being drunk, drugged, tired, etc.

See the full definition for stupor in the English Language Learners Dictionary

stupor

noun

stu·por | \ ˈstü-pər

, ˈstyü-\

Kids Definition of stupor

: a condition of being not alert or able to think normally

stupor

noun

stu·por | \ ˈst(y)ü-pər

Medical Definition of stupor

: a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility a drunken stupor specifically : a chiefly mental condition marked by absence of spontaneous movement, greatly diminished responsiveness to stimulation, and usually impaired consciousness