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not feeling or showing emotion years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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
Relationships often suffer as people withdraw or feel emotionally numb. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Some doctors understandably get a bit numb to the pain of their patients. — Lawrence Ingrassia, STAT, 26 June 2026
Verb
The side-of-the-head tattoos actually weren't so bad, Morrison says, and numbing cream helps ease the sting of her leg tattoos. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 July 2026 The Szechuan peppercorn brings a gentle numbing sensation, while the five-spice adds warmth and complexity. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 22 July 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
  • No sitting down eagerly and staring at a blank document, hoping to craft the next great American novel.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The blank instrument cluster can occur randomly at startup, the company said.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of blank
Adjective
  • Iriarte-Valdez appeared stoic during the hearing as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even more shocking is Annie’s encounter with Ramona(Amélie Hoeferle), the stoic and standoffish redhead who looks exactly like Annie’s dead mom and who insists Gordon was also her grandfather.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of stoic
Verb
  • To protect himself, however, Trask has created an inhibitor field that de-powers any mutant nearby, dulling Wolverine’s healing power and ferocity.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Lastly, to dull the war-mongering vigor of the Rivermen, Ormund installs small, scared little boys, ripped from their homes, all along the chemin de ronde — a baby human shield for Ser Daeron the Daring’s great army.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • In case of emergency, there’s a lyre on the nightstand that lulls him asleep.
    — Brandon Follick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • An intoxicated Flint man was arrested after he was found asleep in his vehicle and blocking lanes of Interstate 75 in Oakland County, Michigan State Police said.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of asleep
Adjective
  • After coming up empty all night, the Angels finally broke the scoreless tie in the eighth.
    — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The luxury pods — complete with lie-flat beds and sliding privacy doors — could be entirely off-limits when departure day rolls around, sitting completely empty at 35,000 feet.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • Expect a calm palette of neutrals and soft blues, metallic accents, and plenty of natural light, with views either west toward the mountains and desert or north up the Strip.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The extra five minutes spent adjusting a pillow so the incision is protected, the calm explanation of what the next day will look like, the quiet competence that makes a terrifying situation feel manageable—these moments stick.
    — Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of calm
Verb
  • The South in particular faces higher rates of obesity and other health challenges that have further reduced the pool of eligible recruits and contributed to higher injury rates during basic training, according to service data.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The historic supply shock has also been softened by other factors, including alternative export routes out of the Gulf, China reducing its oil imports, the United States increasing production and drawdowns from global oil stockpiles.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce

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Cite this Entry

“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of numb for Spanish Speakers

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