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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
Europe, perhaps now numb to the threats from across the Atlantic, also stayed relatively calm with London’s FTSE and Germany’s DAX marking minor gains.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 July 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
Ashley was still reeling from the 2001 murder of her husband Mack right in front of her, and had been using meth to numb the pain when Nichols showed up at her Atlanta-area apartment with a gun at 2 a.m. on March 12, 2005.
—Johnny Dodd, People.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
His leg went numb, but his sense of humor was unharmed.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
Europe, perhaps now numb to the threats from across the Atlantic, also stayed relatively calm with London’s FTSE and Germany’s DAX marking minor gains.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Verb
In his opening voiceover, which floats above the sort of glassy synth music that’s meant to numb our judgment, Mel informs us that he was conceived during a conjugal visit when his father was in prison, and that his dad once told him that he was destined to wind up back behind bars.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
Ashley was still reeling from the 2001 murder of her husband Mack right in front of her, and had been using meth to numb the pain when Nichols showed up at her Atlanta-area apartment with a gun at 2 a.m. on March 12, 2005.
—Johnny Dodd, People.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
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For the outing at the California theme park, Cox wore an oversized white blouse with blank pants and sandals.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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One Redditor said their iPad now had a blank screen, but to be clear there hasn’t been an iPad update.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The film also gave Lerman a chance to flex comedic muscles rarely seen in his more stoic roles.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
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The typically stoic Powell looked at Trump and began shaking his head.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Still, that venue-filling sound doesn’t dull the music’s bleeding edge.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
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While short-term boosts are possible, too much artificial stimulation can dull the natural response over time.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Within 30 minutes of being picked up, Giovanni texted his mother, who had been studying for an upcoming pharmacy board exam and was asleep.—
Janelle Griffith,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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The clip shows a woman—who is said to be around 6.5 feet tall—gingerly climbing over a fellow passenger who appears to be asleep in the aisle seat.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Though cynics might be quick to dismiss the president’s words as empty political rhetoric, some industry leaders are applauding President Trump’s openness in publicly addressing rescheduling.—
Iris Dorbian,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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The day after the crash, the FWC investigators found a stash of empty booze bottles and cans on the boat.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The calm but stern warning came Wednesday during a back-to-school news conference in Baltimore with State Superintendent Carey Wright and State Board of Education President Joshua Michael.—
William J. Ford,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
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Developing temperance involves cultivating the five habits of being calm, composed, patient, prudent, and self-controlled, which depend on regulating the PABC systems.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over the past year, the co-CEOs have executed a plan to shave off $500 million in costs, sell off assets and reduce a workforce by more than 15 percent as Paramount shifts ownership.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
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Those fine particles can stick together tightly, reducing pore space for water to move through or percolate.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When Luanne’s apathetic boyfriend, Buckley (David Herman), dies in a Mega Lo Mart explosion, Luanne struggles to move on.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
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From the outside, this carelessness made the Sky look apathetic on offense for most of the second half, a characteristic of many losses this season.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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