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numb 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnəm How to pronounce numb (audio)
Definition of numbnext
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

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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

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3
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn

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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

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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 numb
Adjective
The feeling was gone completely since the first time his arm went numb. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Spector is clearly concerned with the pernicious consequences of technology, its ability to numb emotions and steer people into ideological cul-de-sacs. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
Verb
Within days, the video would be seen worldwide—the first of a numbing number of such recordings that would surface over the next decades. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 Damon’s Odysseus is numbed by the massacre of Troy’s civilians; Fiennes’ hates himself for leading the best men of Ithaca to their death, gutting his own community in the heedless destruction of another. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
  1. numbed
  2. blank
  3. stoic
  4. dull
  5. asleep
  6. empty
  7. calm
  8. reduce
Adjective
  • When Bill’s older brother Henry (Barry Ward) finds the pianist in numbed solitude in his dingy apartment, Bill has canceled all his upcoming gigs, saying Scotty cannot be replaced.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Ingber also notes the numbed response to these strikes from much of the American public, something that, in part, may come from the routine nature of these drone strikes as something that the nation has become desensitized to dropping bombs on enemies.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of numbed
Adjective
  • The cloud was blank and inarticulate, a monolith with no secrets to reveal to any of its human witnesses.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Over 250,000 shapes and templates span dozens of diagram types, so a new project starts in seconds instead of from a blank canvas.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of blank
Adjective
  • Clancy appeared upset during the sidebar but returned to the defense table with a stoic expression.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • On the other side of the bench, Davis’ son remains stoic, but closes his eyes, leaning against the uncomfortable cloth seats, devastated at the prospect of losing his father to the penitentiary system.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stoic
Verb
  • Detergent, minerals, and everyday grime can cling to the fibers, creating a film that dulls their appearance.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Abrasive sponges and cleaners can leave tiny marks behind that will dull and damage the surface over time.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Krishnamoorthi cited an NBC News investigation that identified 43 videos appearing to show individuals asleep in the driver’s seat of moving Teslas, including 17 posted this year alone.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Like Harvey, Williams was asleep when she was awakened by a phone call from her husband, who was out of town.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of asleep
Adjective
  • On the day Hoosier fans celebrated last year’s 2025 national championship run inside Memorial Stadium, the stands grew increasingly empty as the season-opener against North Texas wore on.
    — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That would make the construction of small apartment or condo buildings less expensive, helping developers fill Chicago’s empty lots with units that are also affordable, said Ald.
    — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • Expect to see a calm and composed figure in the heart of defence alongside Virgil van Dijk this season; and if Liverpool begin motoring towards the top positions, Jacquet will surely be a big part of it.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, 200 officers from the National Crime Agency and other forces were drafted in to calm tensions.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of calm
Verb
  • Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Advanced transmission technologies can reduce those losses and increase existing network capacity without requiring entirely new lines.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of reduce

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nulls
numb
numbed
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Cite this Entry

“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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