insensibility

noun

Definition of insensibilitynext
1
as in numbness
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness the husband's general insensibility is creating great tension in the marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trance
a temporary state of unconsciousness knocked into insensibility by the blow to the head

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 insensibility The famous Lord Chesterfield[5] counselled his son that he should never be seen to laugh; and that gravity with real or apparent insensibility is a universal characteristic of the savage. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensibility
  1. numbness
  2. trance
  3. apathy
  4. daze
  5. emptiness
  6. faint
  7. coldness
  8. syncope
Noun
  • Too Much Vitamin B6 and Nerve Damage Taking high doses of B6 may cause numbness, a pins-and-needles sensation, or pain in your legs, impairing your ability to walk.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026
  • This painful side effect, which can cause tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, can be managed with ice and painkillers or opioids.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of numbness
Noun
  • Paulina Prosnitz Back to the issue Welcome Wings Traveling to Greece last summer was a dreamlike trance of crystal-clear waters, skinny European cigarettes, and endless tzatziki.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Though the faith and worship systems of the time are largely unknown, researchers believe this rock art may depict a group in a trance state.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of trance
Noun
  • Lazy is a character judgment requiring atonement, while apathy is a syndrome requiring treatment.
    — Michael P.H. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026
  • And yet the core lesson of illness is the opposite of apathy.
    — Elizabeth Nicholas, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of apathy
Noun
  • Everyone in town seemed to walk through that day in a daze; Leslie’s name was spoken in hushed whispers.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • Kutsuna has an impish twinkle; Yamada mutely swans about in a daze like an opium fiend.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of daze
Noun
  • Markets have seen through the emptiness of Bessent’s remedy, as ‘bond vigilantes’ have driven bond yields even higher despite Bessent’s band-aids.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Drugs ravaged the streets, leaving needles and even more emptiness in their wake.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • Starting and running a business isn’t for the faint of heart.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Some of the stadium prices aren’t for the faint of heart, with a water alone almost costing $10 and a birria quesadilla almost $30.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
Definition of faint
Noun
  • The danger occurs if that ruthlessness veers into institutional coldness.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The music recalled the angst and coldness of Carpenter’s movie scores but with more robust arrangements, buttressed by Davies’ guitar.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of coldness
Noun
  • The company also flags baseline cardiac disease, abnormal ECG, arrhythmia, prior cervical vagotomy, abnormal cervical anatomy, brain tumor or aneurysm history, head trauma, syncope, seizures and nickel allergy as unevaluated risks.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
  • Vasovagal syncope is defined by the British National Health Service as a common type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of syncope

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insensibilities
insensibility
insensible
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Cite this Entry

“Insensibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insensibility. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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