Synonyms of numb

numb 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnəm 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• numbed
• asleep
• benumbed
• insensitive
• unfeeling
• torpid
• dead
• dulled
• chilled
• unconscious
• drugged
• anesthetized
• deadened
• stupefied
• blunted
• insensate
• senseless
• inanimate
• nipped
• insensible
• obtunded
• cocainized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• feeling
• sensitive
• sensible
• awake

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blank
• empty
• motionless
• vacant
• catatonic
• expressionless
• dull
• impassive
• vague
• enigmatic
• stolid
• inexpressive
• restrained
• deadpan
• detached
• cold
• mysterious
• still
• static
• wooden
• vacuous
• vapid
• apathetic
• unresponsive
• indifferent
• inscrutable
• reserved
• cool
• aloof
• impenetrable
• reticent
• phlegmatic
• taciturn

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• engaged
• interested
• active
• expressive
• alive
• responsive
• busy
• demonstrative
• dynamic
• energetic
• bright
• lively
• exuberant
• expansive
• effervescent
• emotional
• eloquent
• revealing
• animated
• vivacious
• revelatory
• melodramatic
• unrestrained
• theatrical
• gestural
• unreserved
• gestic
• gesticulative
• gesticulatory
• gesticulant

3

as in stoic

not feeling or showing emotion

years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stoic
• calm
• apathetic
• emotionless
• bland
• passionless
• impassive
• unemotional
• detached
• phlegmatic
• empty
• cold
• stolid
• impassible
• dry
• undemonstrative
• affectless
• enigmatic
• unmoved
• collected
• cold-blooded
• blank
• reserved
• composed
• dispassionate
• vacant
• expressionless
• cool
• wooden
• unresponsive
• indifferent
• inexpressive
• aloof
• imperturbable
• impersonal
• unflappable
• unconcerned
• unfeeling
• thoughtless
• deadpan
• taciturn
• bloodless
• pitiless
• reticent
• unsentimental
• inscrutable
• objective
• inconsiderate
• impenetrable
• insensible
• stone-faced
• hard-hearted
• straight-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• emotional
• passionate
• vehement
• impassioned
• burning
• fervent
• fervid
• demonstrative
• enthusiastic
• passional
• flaming
• sentimental
• fiery
• zealous
• ardent
• glowing
• blazing
• red-hot
• mushy
• mawkish
• dramatic
• sympathetic
• melodramatic
• sensitive
• responsive
• reactive
• histrionic
• gung ho
• compassionate
• hot-blooded
• maudlin
• warm-blooded
• gushing
• overheated
• perfervid
• overemotional

numb

2 of 2

verb

as in to dull

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling

wait for the medication to numb your mouth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dull
• reduce
• blunt
• deaden
• subside
• benumb
• damp
• diminish
• dampen
• weaken
• subdue
• cauterize
• ease
• decrease
• mute
• tone (down)
• alleviate
• muffle
• lessen
• recede
• let up (on)
• wane
• debilitate
• lighten
• dwindle
• moderate
• lower
• enfeeble
• taper (off)
• abate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sharpen
• enhance
• intensify
• strengthen
• augment
• stimulate
• consolidate
• step up
• deepen
• heighten
• amplify
• arouse
• boost
• magnify
• whet
• beef (up)
• redouble
• animate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of numb

Adjective

The bullet hit close to his spine, leaving his legs numb. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 June 2026

Outgunned in Monaco, over-cautious in Lyon, no holding midfielder in the final defeat to Chelsea in 2021 and a Real Madrid remontada the following year which left them numb. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 May 2026

Verb

But now Love was an open wound and was numbing her grief in one way or another. — Quinn Moreland, Pitchfork, 14 June 2026

Burrowing into the past with our phones, streaming the familiar at the expense of the new, is one method people use to numb themselves to the present. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026