1
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness she collapsed, senseless, after hitting her head

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2
3
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily he may be a little absentminded, but he's really not as senseless as he seems

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4
5
as in inanimate
lacking animate awareness or sensation even the senseless sea seemed determined to swamp the storm-tossed ship

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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 senseless Many Iranians who hate their government nonetheless cheered the end of the war, and decried the senseless death of their countrymen at the hands of a faraway government whose concern for Iranian life was open to doubt. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025 No, Task is most interested in serving up a drama about people in pain making their way through a world filled with senseless cruelty and overseen (depending on your religious beliefs) by an indifferent God. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families and loved ones in our communities who are impacted by yet another senseless act of violence. Liam Quinn, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and everyone whose lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence. Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for senseless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senseless
Adjective
  • Daniel, having fallen off the side of a mountain on a rock-climbing trip with Cherry, is in the hospital, unconscious and fighting for his life.
    Judy Berman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
  • As Daniel lies unconscious and broken in a hospital bed, the doctors warn Laura and her husband, Howard (Waleed Zuaiter), that their son probably won’t make it.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For example, some parents may wonder if these behaviors are related to things like stimming (repetitive movement or sounds), echolalia (meaningless repetition of words), or self-regulation behaviors.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The story unfolds in three distinct chapters as the crisis goes up the chain of command, with each part of the film showing how all our systems and technology are ultimately meaningless in the face of such destructive power.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The reigning Super Bowl champs better hope that’s the dumbest thing that one of their players does this season.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes, actors play a slightly dumber iteration of themselves; think James Van Der Beek in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Liam Neeson in Life’s Too Short (a performance that got Neeson cast in this year’s The Naked Gun).
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But giving someone as historically great as Derrick Henry added motivation, certainly may prove to be a foolish decision from Delpit.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • There’s highly capable support in the cast from the unfailingly superb Vázquez, emanating gravitas, humanity and barely contained anger at the increasing frequency and spread of wildfires and the foolish refusal of those in power to address the growing threat.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The American flag is not a mere inanimate banner.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Thin bony fingers as inanimate as dry cigarette papers.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • And when Sam cooks up a truly stupid scheme to make some quick cash, there’s little doubt a heavy like Mickey isn’t going to like it.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
  • There's a fine line between stupid and clever, indeed.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Many kids find repeating these phrases satisfying, or silly, or just plain fun to say, Estevez says.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
  • There are no silly games being played.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The brain, like other internal organs, is insensate, its lack of sensory receptors attested by videos of virtuoso violinists who play on unfazed as neurosurgeons go to work inside their skulls.
    Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024
  • But states have used midazolam alone — and at much higher doses — in executions since 2013, claiming the drug will render people insensate to pain before the administration of other lethal injection drugs.
    Lauren Gill, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Senseless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senseless. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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