Dictionary

numb en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• nŭm
• /nʌm/

Etymology

From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.

Meanings

1. Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
   • fingers numb with cold
   • legs numb from kneeling
2. Emotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.
   • numb with shock; numb with boredom
   • […] when we know that hundreds are rendered homeless every day, and countless thousands are killed and wounded, men and boys mowed down like a field of grain, and with as little compunction, we grow a little bit numb to human misery. 1915, Nellie McClung, chapter 2, in In Times Like These, Toronto: McLeod & Allen:
   • […] he submitted […] as a traitor, his mind numb with vodka, submits to a firing squad. 2016, Julian Barnes, The Noise of Time, Random House Canada, Part Three:
   • […] seeing the dog—somehow that made me feel again. I’d been too dazed, too numb, to feel the full viciousness of it. 1966, Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, New York: Modern Library, published 1992, Part One, p. 77:
3. (Maine) Dumb or stupid.
4. (obsolete) Causing numbness.
   • […] he did lap me Even in his own garments, and gave himself, All thin and naked to the numb cold night. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

Forms

Antonyms

sensitive · sensible

Deriveds

numbness · numb-handed · unnumb · renumb · numbwit · numbskull · numb-brained · numbly · numby · numbhead · benumb · numbfish · numbnuts · numbskulled · numbish · brain-numbing

Relateds

numskull

Synonyms

deadened · nerveless · stunned · dead · insensible · dead

Translations (106)

fa بیحس (physically unable to feel) · uk занімі́лий (physically unable to feel) · mi pōpokorua (physically unable to feel) · tr uyuşuk (physically unable to feel) · ja 無感覚な (physically unable to feel) · pl odrętwiały (physically unable to feel) · ru онеме́лый (physically unable to feel) · km ស្គឹះ (physically unable to feel) · hy անզգա (physically unable to feel) · fr engourdi (physically unable to feel) · hy թմրած (physically unable to feel) · da følelsesløs (emotionally unable to feel) · el ναρκωμένος (physically unable to feel) · sv valen (physically unable to feel) · ceb banhod (physically unable to feel) · pt entorpecido (physically unable to feel) · ary منمل (physically unable to feel) · fa سر (physically unable to feel) · hu eltompult (physically unable to feel) · ka გაშეშებული (physically unable to feel) · fi turta (physically unable to feel) · it intorpidito (physically unable to feel) · nl bewusteloos (physically unable to feel) · ro amorțit (physically unable to feel) · sq shushatur mpirë (physically unable to feel) · nl verdoofd (physically unable to feel) · mi matangurunguru (physically unable to feel) · hu dermedt (physically unable to feel) · de gefühllos (physically unable to feel) · mi kēkerewai (physically unable to feel) · fa کرخت (physically unable to feel) · tl manhid (physically unable to feel) · de betäubt (physically unable to feel) · es entumecido (physically unable to feel) · la torpidus (physically unable to feel) · lv nejutīgs (physically unable to feel) · vi chết lặng (emotionally unable to feel) · pt dormente (emotionally unable to feel) · mi paraheahea (emotionally unable to feel) · de benommen (physically unable to feel) · tr hissiz (emotionally unable to feel) · la torpēns (physically unable to feel) · mi kerekerewai (physically unable to feel) · fi turta (emotionally unable to feel) · mi mangenge (physically unable to feel) · pt entorpecido (emotionally unable to feel) · ar خَدِر (physically unable to feel) · es adormecido (physically unable to feel) · mi matangerengere (physically unable to feel) · es dormido (physically unable to feel) · id mati rasa (physically unable to feel) · mi kōpā (physically unable to feel) · mi rōrā (emotionally unable to feel) · fi lamaantunut (emotionally unable to feel) · da følelsesløs (physically unable to feel) · lv stīvs (physically unable to feel) · th ชา (physically unable to feel) · nl verstijfd (physically unable to feel) · tsg banhud (physically unable to feel) · nb nummen (physically unable to feel) · bg вцепенен (physically unable to feel) · cs necitlivý (physically unable to feel) · de starr (physically unable to feel) · pt dormente (physically unable to feel) · hrx daab (physically unable to feel) · ckb سِڕ (physically unable to feel) · ur سُن (physically unable to feel) · vi tê (physically unable to feel) · vi tê cóng (physically unable to feel) · km សំទក់ (physically unable to feel) · ko 마비되는 (physically unable to feel) · grc ἀναίσθητος (physically unable to feel) · de taub (physically unable to feel) · hy ընդարմացած (physically unable to feel) · lv stings (physically unable to feel) · es entumido (physically unable to feel) · cs ochromený (emotionally unable to feel) · nrf gourd (physically unable to feel) · hu meggémberedett (physically unable to feel) · es entorpecido (physically unable to feel) · nl verkleumd (physically unable to feel) · sv domnad (physically unable to feel) · ka გაფიჩხებული (physically unable to feel) · he נרדם (physically unable to feel) · pt adormecido (physically unable to feel) · de unempfindlich (emotionally unable to feel) · mi matakerekere (physically unable to feel) · tr duygusuz (emotionally unable to feel) · ms kebas (physically unable to feel) · hu zsibbadt (physically unable to feel) · pt amortecido (physically unable to feel) · vi vô cảm (emotionally unable to feel) · fr gourd (physically unable to feel) · hu kábult (physically unable to feel) · fi puutunut (physically unable to feel) · ur بے حِس (physically unable to feel) · mi tēteka (physically unable to feel) · cmn 麻木不仁的 (emotionally unable to feel) · fi tunnoton (physically unable to feel) · de gefühllos (emotionally unable to feel) · eo sensenta (physically unable to feel) · he רדום (physically unable to feel) · cmn 麻木 (physically unable to feel) · tg карахт (physically unable to feel) · is dofinn (physically unable to feel) · km ស្រយង់ (physically unable to feel)

numb en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• nŭm
• /nʌm/

Etymology

From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cause to become numb (physically or emotionally).
   • The dentist gave me novocaine to numb my tooth before drilling, thank goodness.
   • The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […] 1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], “The Prologue”, in Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature A2, recto:
   • When I first heard the news, I was numbed by the shock.
   • But her main concern is the hard seating that numbs the nether regions. 2020 April 22, “Letters: Open Access: Not easy for laptops”, in Rail, page 31:
2. (transitive) To cause (a feeling) to be less intense.
   • He turned to alcohol to numb his pain.
   • [I was] thankful for the pain, which helped to numb my terror. 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, “The Grey Woman”, in The Grey Woman and Other Tales, London: Smith, Elder & Co.:
3. (transitive) To cause (the mind, faculties, etc.) to be less acute.
   • […] hunger, fatigue, and despairing hopelessness had numbed his brain […] 1912, Saki, “The Hounds of Fate”, in The Chronicles of Clovis, London: John Lane, page 219:
   • [The sofa] exhaled a breath of trapped ancient farts, barf-smell, and antiseptic, the parfum de asylum that gradually numbed my nose to all other scents on the ward. 2004, Cory Doctorow, chapter 13, in Eastern Standard Tribe:
   • The noise, the rush of air past our ears, was positively terrific. It actually seemed to numb the senses and make it almost impossible to take in impressions at all. 1927, Hugh Lofting, Doctor Dolittle’s Garden, Part Four, Chapter 6:
4. (intransitive) To become numb (especially physically).
   • […] after fumbling with numbing fingers for ten or fifteen minutes, he waved his hand with a gesture of despair […] 1918, Lewis R. Freeman, “Wonders of the Teleferica”, in Many Fronts, London: John Murray, page 270:
   • […] once more his feet began to numb. Again he got down and stamped the circulation going, but as soon as he began to ride again they numbed. 1919, Arthur Murray Chisholm, chapter 18, in The Land of Strong Men, New York: H.K. Fly:

Forms

Deriveds

numb out · mind-numbing

Synonyms

benumb · dull · dull

Translations (46)

fi lamauttaa (to cause to become numb) · es adormecer (to cause to become numb) · fi tukahduttaa (to cause (a feeling) to be less intense) · ar خَفَّفَ (to cause (a feeling) to be less intense) · ru цепене́ть (to cause (a feeling) to be less intense) · fi puuduttaa (to cause (a feeling) to be less intense) · es aterecerse (to become numb physically) · fr engourdir (to cause to become numb) · fi puutua (to become numb physically) · bg вкочанясвам (to cause to become numb) · es aterir (to cause to become numb) · fi kohmettua (to become numb physically) · tr uyuşturmak (to cause to become numb) · ar خَدَّرَ (to cause to become numb) · fi turtua (to become numb physically) · ro amorți (to cause to become numb) · it anestetizzare (to cause to become numb) · fr anesthésier (to cause to become numb) · nl in slaap doen (to cause to become numb) · ro anestezia (to cause to become numb) · cs otupit (to cause to become numb) · grc ναρκόω (to cause to become numb) · ru неме́ть (to become numb physically) · fr endormir (to cause to become numb) · fi turruttaa (to cause to become numb) · es arrecir (to cause to become numb) · es entumecerse (to become numb physically) · es entorpecer (to cause the mind or senses to be less acute) · fi puuduttaa (to cause to become numb) · fi kohmettaa (to cause to become numb) · es entullecer (to become numb physically) · es arrecirse (to become numb physically) · es aterirse (to become numb physically) · cs ochromit (to cause to become numb) · ta மர (to become numb physically) · cs znecitlivit (to cause to become numb) · it intorpidire (to cause to become numb) · it addormentare (to cause to become numb) · fi turruttaa (to cause (a feeling) to be less intense) · es entumecer (to cause to become numb) · de betäuben (to cause to become numb) · sv bedöva (to cause to become numb) · bg вцепенявам (to cause to become numb) · fi turruttaa (to cause the mind or senses to be less acute) · es entumirse (to become numb physically) · nl verdoven (to cause to become numb)