Synonyms of numbness

numbness

noun

as in apathy

a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness

the prisoner exhibited the numbness of someone who had spent more years behind bars than he could remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

• apathy
• emptiness
• impassivity
• phlegm
• coldness
• impassiveness
• insensibility
• detachment
• emotionlessness
• affectlessness
• hardness
• stiffness
• deadness
• indifference
• callousness
• coolness
• heartlessness
• blankness
• callosity
• insensitivity
• imperturbability
• obduracy
• vacancy
• bloodlessness
• unconcern
• halfheartedness
• aloofness
• hard-heartedness
• woodenness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• feeling
• emotion
• sympathy
• sensibility
• sensitivity
• compassion
• empathy
• pity
• understanding
• warmth
• responsiveness
• tenderness
• receptivity
• hysteria
• solicitude
• melodrama
• receptiveness
• hysterics
• vehemence
• histrionics
• hand-wringing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of numbness

Symptoms include tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, balance issues and muscle cramps. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026

Tests revealed a herniated disk, which impacted nerves in Jones’ back and caused numbness in his leg. — Joseph Person, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Pain, numbness or tingling that radiates from the neck or back into the arm or hand, the Mayo Clinic warning sign for a herniated disc affecting upper-extremity strength. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

New or worsening back pain, especially with leg weakness, numbness or trouble controlling the bladder or bowels? — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

If neck pain persists past a week, if headaches become chronic or if numbness or tingling reaches the arms or hands, that’s the threshold to book an appointment — not a signal to push through. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

According to the report, the boy first developed progressive facial numbness and tingling on the right side of his face, followed by loss of appetite, painful swallowing and vomiting. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Webb, the Oklahoma radiologist, documented four times that a patient lacked numbness, and yet his WISeR application was still denied, citing numbness, which, in the reviewer's interpretation, would rule out the spinal surgery procedure. — Darius Tahir, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Some report numbness or tingling in their hand and feet, or balance problems. — Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 23 June 2026