as in blank
not expressing any emotion
a catatonic stare was all that the neglected resident of the nursing home seemed capable of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of catatonic
Off in her own storyline, Eleven leaves the cabin to visit her mother, Terry, who remains catatonic.
—
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
The baby, who was gray, emaciated and catatonic when brought to the Hoag Hospital Emergency Room, was suffering from extremely low blood-sugar levels, hypoxia and constant seizures, according to prosecutors.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
When state troopers executed a search warrant at a motel where Zajko was staying, law enforcement found LaSota hiding in the bathroom of another room, laying still on the floor, his eyes closed, almost catatonic.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
The voice-over narration tells us that Alex’s parents remain catatonic, and, after a couple of years, some of the recovered children have only just begun to speak again.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catatonic
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
The baby, who was gray, emaciated and catatonic when brought to the Hoag Hospital Emergency Room, was suffering from extremely low blood-sugar levels, hypoxia and constant seizures, according to prosecutors.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
When state troopers executed a search warrant at a motel where Zajko was staying, law enforcement found LaSota hiding in the bathroom of another room, laying still on the floor, his eyes closed, almost catatonic.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
The voice-over narration tells us that Alex’s parents remain catatonic, and, after a couple of years, some of the recovered children have only just begun to speak again.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catatonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catatonic
Adjective
-
Dawson instead showed up at Cubs’ spring training in ’87 and made the most famous gambit in free agent history — offering the team a blank contract to sign him.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But there was more blank space to fill in on Issei’s end, with Season 2 swapping out fantasy sequences in Camille’s mind palace for Issei’s visions of black-and-white moonscapes to that effect.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Once at the lobby door, the officers immediately saw a man matching the description standing next to a podium while Robinson was lying motionless on the ground, according to the complaint.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Hadel responded by punching Brown twice, sending him pummeling towards the ground, hitting his head on the pavement and lying motionless on the pavement.—
Mathew Schumer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Firefighters rushed to downtown Los Angeles to extinguish flames that engulfed a vacant business Thursday afternoon.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Two decades later, the land around the stadium remains mostly vacant.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catatonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catatonic. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
