as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
numbed fingers that needed warming by the fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dulled
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
wait for the medication to numb your mouth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 numbed
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
Ethan Stone, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
At the urgent care unit, the area was numbed and a small incision was made.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
After ensuring the donor area is properly numbed, the medical team will remove individual hair grafts one by one with tiny punches.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
At the urgent care unit, the area was numbed and a small incision was made.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numbed
Adjective
-
Feeling numb or unable to experience emotions.—
Julie Kaplow,
USA Today,
30 May 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
-
The sparkle of the moment is somewhat dulled, though, when Mark turns to Margo and claims to have never called CPS on her.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
His helmet was not matte black, after all, but scratched up and dulled by dings and scuffings.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and the children were found safe and asleep in their room.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Trump has been accused of falling asleep at Cabinet and Oval Office meetings, though has denied several incidents.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks are down by 23 points early in the second quarter, and are only shooting 33% from the field, and Madison Square Garden has been reduced to murmurs.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Language barriers may soon be greatly reduced, allowing for a historically impossible level of information sharing and growth.—
Jessica Melugin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
But a series of recent court rulings has blunted Democratic momentum in the redistricting arms race.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
That hasn’t happened as massive releases from oil reserves blunted the impact.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Although the heaviest fighting has subsided, the ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Not only is inflation on the rise again and currently sitting at its highest point in three years, but the hope for interest rate cuts this year has largely subsided.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
But by the 1960s, it was much diminished, and a later owner, Benjamin Swig, had sold close to 1,000 antiques and artworks to help pay bills.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Life satisfaction went up, and loneliness diminished.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
-
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Numbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numbed. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
