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

Hickson’s brother reportedly discovered the victim unresponsive while her boyfriend was sleeping in another room. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death of a Folsom State Prison inmate found unresponsive in his cell last weekend, state corrections officials said. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

One of the most troubling questions for our family is why 911 was not called when Anthony was found unresponsive. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Once inside, officers found an unresponsive man who medical responders soon declared dead at the scene, the release said. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

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