stupor

noun stu·por \ ˈstü-pər , ˈstyü- \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

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

See stupor defined for English-language learners

See stupor defined for kids

Examples of stupor in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of stupor from the Web

Ross befuddled opposing hitters by throwing sliders more than half the time, but his two worst were all the Astros needed to rise out of their recent stupor.

— hunter atkins, Houston Chronicle, "Astros use huge 5th inning to secure victory against Padres," 8 Apr. 2018
The world is filled with places to sun yourself into a blissful stupor—places nearby like the Bahamas, and places not so nearby, like Bora Bora.

— natalie b. compton, GQ, "7 Island Vacations to Cure Your Winter Blues," 9 Jan. 2018
The Dems, in their rudderless, disjointed, unraveled-since-last-November stupor, are vital right now for America.

— rochelle riley, Detroit Free Press, "Riley: What, Gov. Snyder? No election to replace Conyers until next November?," 10 Dec. 2017
In the past eight years, private loan demand has been weak in an economy kept in a stupor by high taxes and an avalanche of regulations.

— phil gramm and, WSJ, "A Booming Economy Will Challenge the Fed," 13 Dec. 2017
Last week, the results of the election stunned the country, South Park included, with Trump's victory throwing the show into an uncharacteristic stupor.

— matt miller, Esquire, "South Park Has Finally Accepted Donald Trump As President. And It's Terrifying.," 17 Nov. 2016
Even the election of Donald Trump as president—a man who ran on a campaign of white nationalism and who has courted the support of white supremacists—did little to shake MLB out of its non-political stupor.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "Bruce Maxwell Finally Broke MLB's Silence, and Hopefully Others Will Follow," 24 Sep. 2017
Gordy leaves his apartment in a drunken stupor and gets arrested for DUI.

— robert croan, Detroit Free Press, "Books: Grisham ponders plight of indebted law students," 29 Oct. 2017
Flake sacrificed himself -- and his political career -- to try to shake Republicans out of their stupor.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Jeff Flake's kamikaze mission against Donald Trump just ended," 24 Oct. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of stupor

Middle English, from Latin, from stupēre

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

stupor Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

STUPOR Defined for English Language Learners

stupor

noun

Definition of stupor for English Language Learners

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

STUPOR Defined for Kids

stupor

noun stu·por \ ˈstü-pər , ˈstyü- \

Definition of stupor for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

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