1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
an utterly numbing class in statistics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature
the numbing air of that wintry morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
wait for the medication to numb your mouth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of numbing
Momo Chang, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2020
Case and death numbers remain stuck on a numbing, tragic plateau that is tilting only slightly downward.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2020
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
The Smashing Machine traces three years in Kerr’s career, when his talents had begun to wane but his instincts still pushed him to focus on numbing the pain of his wounds.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numbing
Adjective
While traditional malatang broth is made from bone broth and is spicy and numbing, several places also offer vegetarian broths and non-spicy broths.
—Momo Chang, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2020
Case and death numbers remain stuck on a numbing, tragic plateau that is tilting only slightly downward.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2020
Verb
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
The Smashing Machine traces three years in Kerr’s career, when his talents had begun to wane but his instincts still pushed him to focus on numbing the pain of his wounds.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numbing
Adjective
-
Without getting into spoilers, her one-and-done appearance in Episode 5 presents the perfect opportunity for the more-than-capable Meester to match wits with Bell’s judgmental Joanna, only to strand the actor with boring, obvious jokes and saddle her with a feeble resolution.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
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Now, adidas is also proving that hiking boots don’t have to look boring, since the brand’s perfect-for-fall versions are attractive as can be, what with their mingling of brown with other earth tones.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These tender plants can’t survive freezing temperatures, so they are often grown as annuals in areas with cold winters.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
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Prepare for the freezing weather All residents in counties included on the freeze warning should take precautions to ensure people, pets, plants and pipes are not impacted by the cold.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Solutions like breathable film packaging and smart logistics play a crucial role in reducing waste and prolonging shelf life.—
William Jones,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding sugar, eliminating tobacco, and curbing or skipping alcoholic beverages altogether, play a role in reducing early breast cancer recurrence.—
Marnie Goodfriend,
Flow Space,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Braun was solid before tiring and working through injuries that affected him on the ball over the final month last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of a chance to flex their goalscoring muscles, United had to grit their teeth and see out a gruelling, tense, tiring second half.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The combination of snow and strong winds is expected to reduce visibility, create slick and icy roads—particularly on bridges and overpasses—and potentially down trees or branches.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The composite image shows the nucleus or icy, rocky central core of 3I/ATLAS as a large and black dot, along with a white glow — the comet's coma, or atmosphere.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In Party of Two—the fifth novel in a series featuring the same group of friends—the protagonist, Olivia, has to navigate the spotlight that comes with dating a senator without dulling her own ambitions.—
Karen Ostergren,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
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Instead of softener, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to naturally soften towels and remove detergent residue without dulling the color.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Persistent winds came first from the South then switched with even colder winds coming from the North.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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Starting November 4 at participating Whataburger locations, customers can enjoy the new Frosted Berry Whatafresher, a frosty drink blend featuring sweet blackberry flavor, including real blueberry bursties, and a cloud of cold whip.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Thin sound deadening The Enabling Technology prize went to CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV for a new kind of sound deadening.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Numbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numbing. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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