1
as in numbed
lacking in sensation or feeling
I've been sitting in the same position for too long and now my feet are numb
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2
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
apparently in shock, he answered the police officer's questions with a numb expression on his face
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3
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion
years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn
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as in to dull
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
wait for the medication to numb your mouth
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of numb
Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Before the procedure, your eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate your pupil and numb your eyes to reduce discomfort.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 6 Apr. 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
After a series of trials with ether, Morton conducted a public demonstration, which successfully numbed the patient’s pain and marked a major breakthrough in medical practice.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
The ophthalmologist will first clean and numb the eye and apply devices to hold open the lids.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Before the procedure, your eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate your pupil and numb your eyes to reduce discomfort.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Instead of compartmentalizing, try to identify and sit with discomfort rather than numbing it.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
After a series of trials with ether, Morton conducted a public demonstration, which successfully numbed the patient’s pain and marked a major breakthrough in medical practice.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
-
Since late March, ocean freight rates have largely remained level to both U.S. coasts, largely due to the blank sailings cancelling out the collapse in imports.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
12 May 2025
-
The 17 confirmed blank sailings in May alone are equivalent to 225,000 fewer 20-foot equivalent units of cargo, or TEUs.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
By placing both Washington and the camera filming him in close-up on a moving dolly outside the ballroom, Lee created the impression that Malcolm was floating through space, in a trance of stoic anticipation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
-
Since the org partnered with Three Camel Lodge in 2020 to expand the breeding program, visitors to the camp can meet the stoic (but still quite cute and fluffy) guardian dogs.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
My protagonist drinks to dull the sharp edges of motherhood, to quiet the restless ache of unmet expectations, and to grasp at the fleeting illusion of control in a life that often feels anything but.—
Jessica Guerrieri,
People.com,
9 May 2025
-
In the last couple episodes, dude seemed to chill out and dull down his sharper edges.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
When the children are asleep, Charlotte and Raffi can grab the baby monitor and hop the balcony wall to their friends’ house.—
Rhaina Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2025
-
One of them is asleep, actually, or maybe dead already?—
Allegra Leal,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
In recent years, K Street has stood out more for its empty storefronts and large number of homeless people than as a vibrant center for activity.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2025
-
Consumers have faced empty supermarket shelves and a nearly 90% surge in prices.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Three Palestinians in Gaza told Reuters early on Monday afternoon that there had been calm since midday, with no sound of drones or warplanes.—
James Mackenzie,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
-
In a moment when the joyously plural expressions of being American are funnelled down to a single dominant script, the careful, considered, globally-oriented, calm Leo XIV is unlikely to fulfil the aspirations of MAGA loyalists to a showdown, a culture war or an open conflict.—
Anna Rowlands,
Time,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Answer: Your withdrawals from retirement plans won’t reduce your Social Security directly.—
Liz Weston,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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The trial of estrogen alone also raised safety concerns, though both types of therapy reduced the risk of bone fractures.—
Jean Wactawski-Wende,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, large chunks of the fan base have tuned out and are feeling apathetic about this disappointing season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Some become apathetic, seeing the problem as distant or abstract.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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