numbs

verb

present tense third-person singular of numb
as in dulls
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling wait for the medication to numb your mouth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 numbs The slime of some species also numbs an attacker’s tongue, protecting them from predators. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game. — Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026 Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles. — Outside, 10 Dec. 2025 Polarity numbs himself with alcohol and can’t be bothered with God U’s suspicious new Dean, aptly named Cipher (Hamish Linklater). — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numbs
  1. dulls
  2. reduces
  3. deadens
  4. diminishes
  5. blunts
  6. weakens
  7. dampens
  8. subsides
Verb
  • Over time, these harsh or oily formulas leave behind residue that dulls the shine and attracts dirt, making your floors look cloudy instead of clean.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of dulls
Verb
  • Supporting our employees reduces burnout, improves retention, strengthens decision-making and helps ensure exceptional service for Washington County residents.
    — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For silent navigation, the Logitech Silent Wireless Mouse reduces click sounds by over 90% without sacrificing tactile feel.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of deadens
Verb
  • Johnson views the phrase as symbolic of a broader cultural problem, arguing that celebrating a reputation built on violence diminishes the hundreds of lives lost over the years.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But those behavior answers are rooted in action, and that diminishes the power of hope as a spiritual idea.
    — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • And that success blunts the effectiveness of what the Iranians are trying to do at the Strait of Hormuz.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Several studies show that dietary fiber blunts the blood sugar response, helping prevent spikes and dips.
    — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 8 July 2026
Definition of blunts
Verb
  • In a turnaround, the danger is that cutting so deeply weakens the capabilities needed for recovery.
    — Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Every decision that follows—from financial management to customer experience—either strengthens or weakens that identity.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • That pillowy feeling is thanks to their dreamstrike+ foam, which absorbs shock and dampens the impact of each step—especially important when walking on unforgiving surfaces, like cobblestones or concrete.
    — Shannon Bauer, InStyle, 28 June 2026
  • As someone who enjoys gardening and beautifying my yard, one thing that always dampens my mood is the sight of weeds.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Definition of dampens
Verb
  • In most cases, volatility subsides after earnings, but with the lockup period for SpaceX insiders opening up two days after, tension is likely to remain high.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, the helicopter ejaculates a waterfall from its door, and the storm subsides.
    — Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of subsides

Browse Nearby Words

numbness
numbs
numerable
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Cite this Entry

“Numbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numbs. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of numbs for Spanish Speakers

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