stupor

American  

[stoo-per, styoo-] / ˈstu pər, ˈstyu- /

noun

1. suspension or great diminution of sensibility, as in disease or as caused by narcotics, intoxicants, etc..

   He lay there in a drunken stupor.

2. mental torpor; apathy; stupefaction.

   Synonyms:

   daze, lethargy, inertia

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stupor British  

/ ˈstjuːpə /

noun

1. a state of unconsciousness

2. mental dullness; torpor

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Other Word Forms

• stuporous adjective

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

Example Sentences

How much can a film criticize big tech’s spell over children when the long-running “Toy Story” franchise is similarly designed to lure its audience into a stupor, and for increasingly diminishing returns.

From Salon

At the camp, Ibrahim said, adults and children alike often wander around in a sort of stupor.

From The Wall Street Journal

A more severe and concerning case can cause neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, or paralysis.

From Los Angeles Times

But a recent FAA-funded study found two chemicals that can: formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and neurotoxin, and tridecane, which can cause headaches and stupor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ronan, better known as a painter in New York’s contemporary art world, chronicles a collection of still lives who jostle themselves out of an emotional stupor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coma
• slumber
• trance