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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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years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of numb
Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Nov. 2024
O’Connell tried to tough it out and stay in the game, but his thumb was numb.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 21 Oct. 2024
Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Nov. 2024
Granted, practically everyone has been numbed by the hype cycle.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for numb 
Adjective
Avoid using direct heat, like hot water or heating pads, because numb skin can quickly burn.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Nov. 2024
O’Connell tried to tough it out and stay in the game, but his thumb was numb.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
The drugs numbed all the pain Babbitt felt from that experience.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Nov. 2024
Granted, practically everyone has been numbed by the hype cycle.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for numb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numb
Adjective
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To immediately set the mood, decorate your grand entrance with a photo op: This could be as simple as hanging a banner on a blank wall and flanking it with some flowers.Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2024
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The first is when Beth’s aunt, the famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, asked them point blank if they were getting married.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Zack recalls growing up with a father who appeared stoic and difficult to read.Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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That could be a big reason as to why Tyson looked stoic in the ring.James Brizuela, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Proposals are exciting and overwhelming, but a too-loose or tight ring could dull the breathtaking moment.Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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It’s even been easy to clean smaller messes and the fabric hasn’t pilled or dulled.Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The woman, who was not publicly identified, was asleep on an idle F train at the Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the police department said.Doha Madani, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2024
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Maintaining adequate calcium levels helps with falling and staying asleep.Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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So the Titans left home and headed west for California, looking for a dream but coming up empty.Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
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The cup is empty; a drink must be purchased to pour into it.Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Hoping for a calm four years while waiting out Trump’s term is not a viable option for South Korea, either.Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
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Quarterback Aidan O’Connell did his part and was calm in the pocket, finding Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker for touchdowns and not throwing an interception.Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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These tools allow professionals to focus on strategic decision-making, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks.Carlos Netto, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
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Addiction Early studies suggest GLP-1 drugs may reduce cravings for alcohol, nicotine and opioids by modulating the brain’s reward pathways.Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Mangold wisely cast Winona Ryder, who often played alienated and apathetic young women, as Kaysen, who is forced by her parents to live in a mental institution after an accidental overdose.Will Leitch, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2024
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The performance of such duties was accorded a measure of reverence even as guards were often cast as apathetic or incompetent.Jasper Craven, Harper's Magazine, 23 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Numb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numb. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
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