noun
-
a state of unconsciousness
-
mental dullness; torpor
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of stupor
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “astonishment, insensibility,” equivalent to stup(ēre) “to be numb, to be stunned” + -or -or 1
Explanation
You’re not in a stupor if you’re reading this. A person in a stupor is barely conscious, just really out of it. The words stupor and stupid come from the Latin root stupere that means basically “to be stunned.” Extreme heat and humidity, drugs or alcohol, or some kind of medical issue could send you into a stupor. Shocking news can also send you into a stupor, and some people feel like they’re in a stupor in the morning until they’ve had coffee.
Vocabulary lists containing stupor
Grade 11, List 6
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Persepolis
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Out of the Dust
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
All this gives the affair a narcoleptic quality, where flashes of radiance are quickly overwhelmed by everything else as we’re put back into our stupor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
It’s a testament to Shannon’s direction that he fully commits to submerging us into Janice’s unimaginable emotional stupor, even when that gutsy approach ultimately proves to be the film’s undoing.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025
"I was in a stupor; I couldn't even speak," the activist remembers.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025
You can spend all night talking your friend through a breakup, reminding them that they’re better off without the other person, until you’ve spoken yourself into a stupor on the couch.
From Salon • Dec. 11, 2024
This seems to jolt Haymitch out of his stupor, and he paws through the box in disbelief.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
