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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn
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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
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Recent Examples of numb
Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Other warning signs include skin that appears white or grayish-yellow, feels unusually firm or waxy or is numb.
—Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
My brain, dependent on the instant gratification of likes and replies, reliant on the numbing comfort of scrolling and clicking, and terrified of the prospect of being alone with its own thoughts, was plenty full of poison without another social-media platform being added to the mix.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
Navigating a foreign city with a numb mouth is even worse.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Other warning signs include skin that appears white or grayish-yellow, feels unusually firm or waxy or is numb.
—Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is added to lidocaine and other dental numbing solutions to shrink blood vessels, reduce bleeding and prolong numbness.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
My brain, dependent on the instant gratification of likes and replies, reliant on the numbing comfort of scrolling and clicking, and terrified of the prospect of being alone with its own thoughts, was plenty full of poison without another social-media platform being added to the mix.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
The thought of a blank calendar is scarier than working eighty hours a week.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Fans tuning into the 2026 Grammys in hopes of seeing Taylor Swift will be left with a blank space on Sunday.—
Vivian Kwarm,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The normally stoic Thibs let out a laugh.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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No paintings of stoic elders in headdresses.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Older workers face forced plateaus as organizations hesitate to invest in workers over 50, assuming their time is limited, minds are dulling, and retirement is imminent.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Protein shakes are an easy way to bridge the gap between mealtimes without dulling your appetite.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This city, which can sometimes seem almost asleep at the wheel, is suddenly wide awake.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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That welfare fraud was real, as the number of convictions attest, and its scale is a stunner and an indictment of the state’s officials, asleep at the wheel.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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By the time Rasmus Dahlin’s empty-net goal hit the back of the net to complete his hat trick and put the finishing touch on Buffalo’s 7-4 lead, there weren’t enough Leafs fans left in the building to boo.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The gas station was mostly empty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Minneapolis Police Department asked for the public to remain calm after Saturday's shooting.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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The police chief appealed for calm, both from the public and federal law enforcement.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This comes at a time when there has been talk of reducing the number of PGA tournaments on the calendar.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The cross-border clearing platform could streamline operations, reducing risks in OTC trades that dominate the market.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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