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Showing results for "numbing"
  • present participle of numb.
Synonyms

numbing

American  
[nuhm-ing] / ˈnʌm ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing numbness or insensibility; stupefying.

    the numbing effects of grief; a story repeated with numbing regularity.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of numbing

First recorded in 1625–35; numb + -ing 2


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It’s both an explanation for her withdrawn demeanor and an indication of the permanent numbing that has enveloped her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The numbing lidocaine was injected first and sprayed down my windpipe, making me feel as if I were drowning.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

This awful situation highlights TV’s ability to unite its otherwise fractured audience, despite years of scripted and unscripted content numbing us to the worst acts people commit against one another.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026

This numbing and inescapable truth gives a unique urgency to Mr. Rosolie’s “Junglekeeper.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

Such voracious reading was like an anesthesia, numbing me to the harsh life around me.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

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