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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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
Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
His chest immediately tightened and his arm went numb.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
As a garnish, a grapefruit peel, adding a slightly numbing textured bitterness to the experience, ties the whole thing together.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
Rob yelled into the wind that his toes were growing numb.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
His chest immediately tightened and his arm went numb.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
The pins went through the scalp and were docked on the surface of her skull with numbing cream.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
As a garnish, a grapefruit peel, adding a slightly numbing textured bitterness to the experience, ties the whole thing together.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
-
The bad column was virtually blank.—
Jay Glennie,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Taasa looks at him in blank, exhausted disgust and then looks straight into the camera.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Bieber isn’t like some stoic pitchers.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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In Start of Watch, Harry Bosch, a intensely observant, stoic and unyielding young man, is a probationary patrol officer with the LAPD.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The emotions that drive decisions at the top of the free-agent market — sentimentality, desperation, urgency — are dulled by the organization’s adherence to process.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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It’s made of 100 percent solid acacia wood, which is great for cooking thanks to its water-resistant and durable finish that won’t dull your knives.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
A lot of people are asleep, and many are upset about what’s going on in the White House, Michael Curtis of Charlotte said.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Oct. 2025
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The video shows the pup lounging around in various positions in a home setting, from asleep on the floor and over a blanket to playing with a dog toy and lying on the floor with her legs in the air as a hand rubs her belly.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Or for the wide swaths of empty seats in the upper deck that formed after the New York Giants put the game in a vice grip with a three-score lead late in the third quarter and put the Broncos on shutout watch.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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The kitchen was empty, save for an enormous stockpot of broth, with chicken feet bobbing at the surface.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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De Gea developed it to a degree but was more of an instinctive shot stopper than someone who would marshal the back line and spread calm to those in front of him.—
Mark Critchley,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Benkired, who reportedly appeared mostly calm in court Friday as prosecutors laid out the case against her, could face up to life in prison if convicted, Le Parisien reported.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, many employers are looking to harness the power of AI—initially for mundane and repetitive tasks and eventually for more complicated jobs—to reduce the need to maintain the same level of human staffers on their payrolls.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
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And drivers can reduce the risk of their cars being hit.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While all this is going on, the rest of the gang is splitting up to find Marie and warn her about Annabeth’s nightmare-premonition of her bloodied, motionless body.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
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In the eastbound direction, between the queue of cars and congregation of responders, lay a motionless helicopter, not in the sky, but on the ground; not right-side-up but on its roof.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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