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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to dull
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 numb
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
The steering effort is dramatically reduced without feeling numb; the system filters out road vibration while preserving the intuitive sense of what the front tires are doing.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
Angela Haupt, Time, 19 Mar. 2026
Minimal downtime, no numbing required, and results build over time.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for numb
Adjective
Brands are used to reports and likely just as numb to petitions.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
The steering effort is dramatically reduced without feeling numb; the system filters out road vibration while preserving the intuitive sense of what the front tires are doing.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
People with chemical keratitis, as it’s called, are generally treated with numbing drops and need to have their eyes flushed—sometimes for hours—until their pH returns to normal.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 19 Mar. 2026
Minimal downtime, no numbing required, and results build over time.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
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
Adjective
-
Hands clasped, head bowed, blank and fair of face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
My position is that California should continue the project, but under a much stricter framework, which includes realistic phasing, stronger independent oversight, honest public timelines and no blank-check mentality.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her back stiffens, and her usually stoic face is visibly gripped by fear.—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While his son battled against Fonseca Sunday night, his father sat stoic and alone — no hometown entourage in sight — in the courtside players’ box.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The researchers positioned intuitive attunement as something that gets dulled by painful experience and reclaimed through healing.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The blades are then able to rotate freely without constantly coming into contact with debris, which can prematurely dull the edges.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
He was advised to turn back along the same route and keep moving to avoid falling asleep through hypothermia.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the official teaser, Lowen is slinking around the Crawford family house wearing a silk robe while Verity is fast asleep in bed.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s been maddening to watch a lineup full of high-end hitters come up empty night after night in April, a month that has felt as long as about three.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
After sitting empty since Sting and Styler moved out, per the New York Post, the stylish spread has just returned to the market for $45 million, a whopping $5 million less than the current owner paid.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Stay calm and adjust without losing your place.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Carly is cool, calm, controlled, and precise.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1994, American teenager Michael Fay was caned at a Singaporean prison for vandalism, a day after his sentence was reduced from six lashes to four in response to an appeal by President Bill Clinton.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has—unfairly—been reduced to an excuse to drink tequila and eat guac.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
