unresponsive

adjective

un·​re·​spon·​sive ˌən-ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 

: not responsive

The patient was unresponsive.

an infection unresponsive to antibiotics

an unresponsive bureaucracy

Although they are able to locate their own food at two weeks of age, fledgling robins will still piteously beg handouts from their increasingly unresponsive father.

—Millard H. Sharp

unresponsively adverb

staring unresponsively

unresponsiveness noun

Examples of unresponsive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The force of the crash pushed the SUV off of the roadway where, minutes later, first responders found the driver unresponsive. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025

The teenager, later identified as Kayleb Lynn Eddings, was found unresponsive by his father, Toby Eddings, who was among the first to reach his son, according to KHBS. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025

First responders found Campbell, limp, pale and unresponsive in Kurek's vehicle. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025

During a search of the fast-food chain, officers found a delivery driver unresponsive before he was pronounced dead at the scene following unsuccessful medical aid, officials said. —Paloma Chavez, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unresponsive

• nonresponsive
• responsive

Medical Definition

unresponsive

adjective

un·​re·​spon·​sive ˌən-ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 

: not responsive (as to a stimulus or treatment)

an unresponsive ulcer

unresponsiveness noun