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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn
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as in to dull
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
wait for the medication to numb your mouth
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1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
an utterly numbing class in statistics
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2
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature
the numbing air of that wintry morning
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as in reducing
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
Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
An example is lidocaine, used to numb pain during medical procedures.
—Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 29 Apr. 2025
The kittens are too little to be given pain medicine, so injuries are being treated with topical numbing agent.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Momo Chang, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2020
Because watching people die in Alabama’s execution chamber is numbing, over time.
—John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 5 Mar. 2020
Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
The launch acceleration was brain-numbing.
—James Morris, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
Pay no heed to the aches in your body, the growing fear that your numb fingers and toes may never be able to feel sensations again: look up and thank the man with your gaze.
—Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
An example is lidocaine, used to numb pain during medical procedures.
—Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Signs and symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency include tingling or numbing in the hands and feet, pain, headaches, diarrhea, weight loss, mood changes, and a smooth, red tongue.
—Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 29 Apr. 2025
The kittens are too little to be given pain medicine, so injuries are being treated with topical numbing agent.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
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
Because watching people die in Alabama’s execution chamber is numbing, over time.
—John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 5 Mar. 2020
Verb
Your healthcare provider will give you local anesthesia, usually by injecting a numbing medication into the toe.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
The launch acceleration was brain-numbing.
—James Morris, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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