Synonyms of numb

numb 1 of 4

adjective (1)

ˈnəm 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• numbed
• asleep
• benumbed
• insensitive
• unfeeling
• torpid
• dead
• dulled
• chilled
• unconscious
• drugged
• anesthetized
• deadened
• stupefied
• blunted
• insensate
• senseless
• inanimate
• nipped
• insensible
• obtunded
• cocainized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• feeling
• sensitive
• sensible
• awake

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blank
• empty
• motionless
• vacant
• catatonic
• expressionless
• dull
• impassive
• vague
• enigmatic
• stolid
• inexpressive
• enigmatical
• restrained
• deadpan
• detached
• cold
• mysterious
• still
• vapid
• static
• vacuous
• wooden
• apathetic
• unresponsive
• indifferent
• inscrutable
• reserved
• aloof
• cool
• impenetrable
• reticent
• phlegmatic
• taciturn

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• engaged
• interested
• active
• expressive
• alive
• responsive
• busy
• demonstrative
• dynamic
• energetic
• bright
• exuberant
• lively
• expansive
• effervescent
• emotional
• eloquent
• revealing
• animated
• vivacious
• revelatory
• melodramatic
• unrestrained
• gestural
• theatrical
• unreserved
• gestic
• gesticulative
• gesticulatory
• gesticulant
• theatric

3

as in stoic

not feeling or showing emotion

years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stoic
• calm
• apathetic
• emotionless
• bland
• passionless
• stoical
• impassive
• unemotional
• detached
• enigmatical
• phlegmatic
• cold
• empty
• dry
• stolid
• impassible
• undemonstrative
• affectless
• enigmatic
• collected
• unmoved
• reserved
• cold-blooded
• blank
• dispassionate
• composed
• cool
• expressionless
• wooden
• vacant
• unresponsive
• indifferent
• inexpressive
• aloof
• imperturbable
• impersonal
• unflappable
• unconcerned
• unfeeling
• thoughtless
• deadpan
• taciturn
• bloodless
• pitiless
• reticent
• unsentimental
• objective
• inscrutable
• inconsiderate
• impenetrable
• insensible
• stone-faced
• hard-hearted
• straight-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• emotional
• passionate
• vehement
• impassioned
• burning
• fervent
• fervid
• demonstrative
• enthusiastic
• passional
• flaming
• sentimental
• fiery
• zealous
• ardent
• glowing
• blazing
• red-hot
• mushy
• mawkish
• dramatic
• sympathetic
• melodramatic
• sensitive
• responsive
• reactive
• histrionic
• gung ho
• compassionate
• hot-blooded
• maudlin
• warm-blooded
• gushing
• overheated
• perfervid
• overemotional

numb

2 of 4

verb (1)

as in to dull

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling

wait for the medication to numb your mouth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dull
• reduce
• blunt
• deaden
• subside
• benumb
• damp
• diminish
• dampen
• weaken
• subdue
• cauterize
• ease
• decrease
• mute
• tone (down)
• alleviate
• muffle
• lessen
• recede
• let up (on)
• wane
• debilitate
• lighten
• dwindle
• moderate
• lower
• enfeeble
• taper (off)
• abate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sharpen
• enhance
• intensify
• strengthen
• augment
• stimulate
• consolidate
• step up
• deepen
• heighten
• amplify
• arouse
• boost
• magnify
• whet
• beef (up)
• redouble
• animate

numbing

3 of 4

adjective (2)

ˈnə-miŋ 

1

as in boring

causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest

an utterly numbing class in statistics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boring
• tiring
• wearying
• slow
• weary
• stupid
• dull
• old
• dusty
• heavy
• dry
• irritating
• annoying
• tedious
• tame
• monotonous
• pedestrian
• tiresome
• mind-numbing
• wearisome
• humdrum
• uninteresting
• drab
• stale
• leaden
• colorless
• arid
• dreary
• stodgy
• ponderous
• exhausting
• stuffy
• monochromatic
• jading
• jejune
• drudging
• sterile
• ho-hum
• draining
• flat
• pallid
• blank
• prosaic
• barren
• blah
• grey
• aseptic
• unimaginative
• spiritless
• unrewarding
• gray
• uneventful
• unexciting
• irksome
• bothersome
• debilitating
• soggy
• prosy
• uninspiring
• inanimate
• dullish
• pedantic
• undramatic
• earthbound
• unspectacular
• fatiguing
• demoralizing
• wearing
• enervating
• discouraging
• unsensational
• dispiriting
• ordinary
• disheartening
• common
• vapid
• tepid
• commonplace
• plodding
• cumbersome
• unsurprising
• suspenseless
• pokey
• lumbering
• unnewsworthy
• pleasureless
• unexceptional
• palling
• poky
• enfeebling
• longsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• involving
• interesting
• absorbing
• gripping
• engaging
• surprising
• engrossing
• riveting
• wondrous
• intriguing
• astonishing
• stimulating
• sensational
• astounding
• exhilarating
• wonderful
• exciting
• amazing
• marvellous
• spectacular
• electrifying
• thrilling
• stirring
• inspiring
• energizing
• rousing
• amusing
• marvelous
• entertaining
• moving
• awesome
• breathtaking
• animating
• touching
• fabulous
• poignant
• invigorating
• entrancing
• charming
• fascinating
• enlivening
• alluring
• attracting
• galvanizing
• enchanting
• attractive
• enthralling
• diverting
• eye-opening
• beguiling
• bewitching
• hair-raising
• rip-roaring
• provocative
• tantalizing
• suspenseful
• captivating
• arresting
• mesmerizing
• spellbinding

2

as in freezing

having a low or subnormal temperature

the numbing air of that wintry morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• freezing
• icy
• cold
• frigid
• chilly
• chill
• cool
• arctic
• glacial
• ice-cold
• wintry
• shivery
• bitter
• wintery
• polar
• gelid
• brisk
• frosty
• bone-chilling
• chilled
• algid
• nippy
• nipping
• cooled
• penetrating
• snappy
• coldish
• piercing
• coolish
• bracing
• cryogenic
• subzero
• crisp
• cutting
• ultracold
• subfreezing
• frozen
• iced
• invigorating
• rigorous
• sharp
• frosted
• keen
• refrigerated
• unheated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• boiling
• searing
• burning
• warming
• hot
• seething
• molten
• fervent
• igneous
• fiery
• torrid
• sweltering
• white-hot
• broiling
• ardent
• glowing
• blazing
• fervid
• tepid
• red-hot
• sultry
• sizzling
• roasting
• lukewarm
• piping hot
• warm
• heated
• scalding
• scorching
• warmed
• feverish
• overheated
• reheated
• ultrahot
• inflamed
• tropical
• snug
• equatorial
• flushed
• muggy
• steamy
• summery
• toasty
• enflamed
• canicular

numbing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of numb

as in reducing

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling

wait for the medication to numb your mouth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reducing
• dulling
• deadening
• blunting
• benumbing
• diminishing
• subsiding
• dampening
• weakening
• damping
• decreasing
• cauterizing
• subduing
• easing
• alleviating
• muffling
• debilitating
• muting
• lessening
• lowering
• waning
• tapering (off)
• receding
• toning (down)
• lightening
• dwindling
• moderating
• enfeebling
• letting up (on)
• abating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sharpening
• deepening
• enhancing
• strengthening
• intensifying
• augmenting
• consolidating
• heightening
• amplifying
• stimulating
• magnifying
• boosting
• whetting
• arousing
• stepping up
• animating
• redoubling
• beefing (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of numb

Adjective

And then all of a sudden, my lips go completely numb. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025

But, some people can feel numb after achieving major goals in life. —Renée Onque, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025

Verb

And, not for nothing, but even the relative passivity of television isn’t safe from the numbing glut of streaming content. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 25 Apr. 2025

Ice can numb the area, which helps block pain signals and prevent swelling. —Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 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 | [e-mail], 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