1
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness
if a choking person is insensible, you should lay them down on their back before performing the Heimlich maneuver
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2
as in invisible
not perceptible by a sense or by the mind
the fragile glass flowers can be damaged by even the most insensible tremors
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3
as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern
city hall remains insensible to our complaints about the downtown parking situation
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4
as in insensate
lacking animate awareness or sensation
even the canyon's insensible rocks seemed to mock the stranded climber's utter helplessness
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5
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
married an insensible brute upon whom the niceties of life were completely lost
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6
as in ignorant
not informed about or aware of something
a scientist who usually is so engrossed in his work that he is quite insensible of the passage of time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insensible
Para añadir más ofensas, YouTube TV decidió tomar esta medida durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, un acto profundamente insensible y ofensivo.
—
Todd Spangler, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Also invited, for insensible reasons, is Neville’s first wife, Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland), blond to Kay’s brunette, for easy identification.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
The ‘real’ Camille, meanwhile, has become an insensible, comatose carcass, although no one seems to notice.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Foreman tumbled downward in a dizzy, slow-motion-like crash, full-weight, a helpless giant, insensible.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
Or lobbyists can sometimes intervene and gain insensible exemptions from bans.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Feb. 2024
The novel positions him as insensible to agendas, hopelessly subject to the whims of the altruistic and the cruel.
—Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022
Todd Spangler, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Also invited, for insensible reasons, is Neville’s first wife, Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland), blond to Kay’s brunette, for easy identification.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
The ‘real’ Camille, meanwhile, has become an insensible, comatose carcass, although no one seems to notice.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Foreman tumbled downward in a dizzy, slow-motion-like crash, full-weight, a helpless giant, insensible.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
Or lobbyists can sometimes intervene and gain insensible exemptions from bans.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Feb. 2024
The novel positions him as insensible to agendas, hopelessly subject to the whims of the altruistic and the cruel.
—Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensible
Adjective
-
He was found lying unconscious near the elevator, at which time Andrew called 911.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On 11 April, Farès was found unconscious in a gym swimming pool at the private sports complex of Blanche in Paris.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After sweeping up broken glass, tiny, almost-invisible shards often remain behind.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Like all black holes, primordial black holes have mass and thus interact with gravity and are effectively invisible due to the fact that they are bounded by a light-trapping surface called an event horizon.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This approach not only simplifies your daily routine but also enhances the haircut's nonchalant vibe, quintessential to French style.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Fagen’s nonchalant cameo, though, got the Steely Dan community in a tizzy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The brain, like other internal organs, is insensate, its lack of sensory receptors attested by videos of virtuoso violinists who play on unfazed as neurosurgeons go to work inside their skulls.—
Matthew Ponsford,
WIRED,
19 Sep. 2024
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But states have used midazolam alone — and at much higher doses — in executions since 2013, claiming the drug will render people insensate to pain before the administration of other lethal injection drugs.—
Lauren Gill,
ProPublica,
29 Apr. 2023
Adjective
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The word was considered so vulgar that it was left out of early dictionaries and was rarely printed, though Adams says people were certainly using it.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
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One day, Dahlstrom made a vulgar joke in a lunchroom referencing oral sex and pubic hair, according to the employee.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump is either too ignorant or mentally challenged — and dangerous — to continue as president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Excluding industry from the room doesn’t make for ‘independent’ policy but sets the table for ignorant policy.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Because there are no limits on call time, the transition from customer service to therapy was often imperceptible.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Drummers’ timekeeping is fluid; even at its most rocksteady, it’s enlivened by tiny, imperceptible pauses and hiccups.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The satchel design is great for everyday use and looks great with a casual outfit like Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Garner’s jean looks.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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But Ashley and Austin, bless their hearts, would live in the throes of a careless spring, with mismatched furniture and super casual pastel curtains.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insensible. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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