unresponsive

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

Definition of unresponsive

: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

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unresponsively

adverb

- staring unresponsively

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unresponsiveness

noun

See unresponsive defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unresponsive from the Web

Elliott was unresponsive inside a gated power station and was pronounced dead on the scene.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Man possibly electrocuted while stealing copper wiring from coal mine, authorities say," 24 Aug. 2017
A high frequency vibration was felt in the aircraft, and the rudder controls were unresponsive.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Time a B-52 Landed Without a Tail Fin," 1 Aug. 2017
Most bees reacted to at least one situation, but about 14% were unresponsive to both, he and his colleagues report today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Antisocial bees share genetic profile with people with autism," 31 July 2017
Lonnie Bard, 62, of Louisville, was found unresponsive around 11 p.m. Monday at 22nd and Stone Alley, according to Deputy Coroner Eddie Robinson.

— matthew glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "3 teens charged with murder in Russell robbery, assault of 62-year-old," 27 July 2017
The rejection of established elites is perhaps the defining characteristic of a populist movement, yet what is not always clear is why mainstream parties should be so unresponsive in the face of discord.

— The Economist, "The power of populists," 20 July 2017
The children’s mother, Jade Spencer, 31, called 911 around 1 a.m. Monday after they were discovered not breathing and unresponsive in their apartment on Van Cortlandt Park South in Kingsbridge.

— marc santora and al baker, New York Times, "Bronx Toddlers’ Deaths Are Ruled Homicides," 11 July 2017
Not to mention the thousands of little things—creepy emails, unresponsive HR departments—that make women's lives harder on a daily basis.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "Why Women Are Really Mad About Ashton Kutcher's Plans to Discuss Sexism in Tech," 8 July 2017
Davion was located unresponsive in the water and brought to the side of the pool, where he was removed from the water and one of the adults initiated CPR, police said.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Officials focus on safety measures in church pool drowning," 7 July 2017

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

First Known Use of unresponsive

1768

Medical Dictionary

unresponsive

play

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

medical Definition of unresponsive

:not responsive (as to a stimulus or treatment)

an unresponsive ulcer

—

unresponsiveness

noun

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unresponsive

Definition of unresponsive

unresponsively

unresponsiveness

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First Known Use of unresponsive

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unresponsive

medical Definition of unresponsive

unresponsiveness

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unresponsive

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unresponsively

unresponsiveness

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unresponsive

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unresponsiveness

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