as in blank
not expressing any emotion
a catatonic stare was all that the neglected resident of the nursing home seemed capable of
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Recent Examples of catatonic
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
Extreme fatigue that turned mornings into catatonic nightmares.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 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
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
Extreme fatigue that turned mornings into catatonic nightmares.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 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
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Two were blank, one was out of focus and two showed police officers.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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The brand’s trefoil logo is embroidered in gold at the forefoot, but the mule is otherwise blank in terms of outward branding.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators later determined the four officers fired nearly 100 shots, including three that were fired as Reed — a former standout basketball player at Westinghouse College Prep high school — was lying motionless on the ground.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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One on a stoop and two on a corner and four motionless on a sidewalk and—down the block, the reflective vests of the volunteers in pairs walking the school patrol, to keep the kids from the K-5 safe from ICE.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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All three were in jeopardy before the fire, and more so after, with thousands of lots vacant and local businesses on life support.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Apparently per a more recent 2022 General Assembly language amendment, vacant farmland qualifies for an ERA.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catatonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catatonic. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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