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Definitions

numbing

[nuhm-ing] / ˈnʌm ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
cold
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak brisk chilled cool crisp frigid frosty frozen icy intense raw snowy wintry
STRONG
Siberian arctic chill cutting hyperborean icebox keen sharp stinging
WEAK
algid below freezing below zero benumbed biting blasting boreal brumal frore gelid glacial have goose bumps hawkish hiemal iced inclement nipping nippy numbed one-dog night penetrating piercing polar rimy severe shivery sleety snappy two-dog night
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hot mild nice pleasant temperate warm
ADJECTIVE
freezing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
biting chilly frigid frosty glacial icy polar wintry
STRONG
Siberian arctic bitter chill chilled cutting penetrating raw
WEAK
frost-bound gelid hawkish nippy one-dog night shivery snappy two-dog night
Antonyms
STRONGEST
amicable friendly hot responsive tropical warm
STRONG
good kind nice pleasant
WEAK
boiling heated
ADJECTIVE
narcotic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
calming
STRONG
analgesic anesthetic deadening hypnotic opiate sedative soporific
WEAK
somnifacient somnific somnolent somnorific soporiferous stupefacient stupefactive stupefying
Antonyms
STRONG
exciting stimulating
ADJECTIVE
piercing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
biting blaring earsplitting fierce high-pitched painful penetrating shrill
STRONG
agonizing bitter deafening excruciating freezing keen racking roaring shattering shooting stabbing thin treble
WEAK
acute arctic cold exquisite frosty high knifelike loud powerful raw severe sharp stentorian stentorious wintry
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm kind
STRONG
pleasant
WEAK
low soft weak
ADJECTIVE
shivery
Synonyms
WEAK
Siberian algid arctic below freezing below zero benumbed biting bitter blasting bleak boreal brisk brumal chill chilled chilly cool crisp cutting frigid frore frosty frozen gelid glacial have goose bumps hawkish hiemal hyperborean icebox iced icy inclement intense keen nipping nippy numbed one-dog night penetrating piercing polar raw rimy severe sharp sleety snappy snowy stinging two-dog night wintry
ADJECTIVE
soporific
Synonyms
STRONG
anesthetic calming deadening hypnotic narcotic opiate sedative
WEAK
balmy dozy drowsy dull mesmerizing nodding quietening slumberous snoozy somniferous somnolent soothing tranquilizing
Antonyms
STRONG
upsetting
WEAK
awake conscious exciting invigorating stimulating
NOUN
somnifacient
Synonyms
WEAK
anesthetic balmy calming deadening dozy drowsy dull hypnotic mesmerizing narcotic nodding opiate quietening sedative slumberous snoozy somniferous somnolent soothing tranquilizing

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.

This is unfortunate, and not just because it affects the viewing experience, which is as numbing as a winter at Fort Ticonderoga.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

"Is it, in fact, unhealthy and desensitising and numbing to feel joy when we're surrounded by so much suffering?" he asks.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2025

That can produce psychic numbing, the inability or disinclination to feel, which can reach the point of immobilization.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2024

At this point, they pop up with numbing regularity.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2024

Then the cold: arms and legs prickly, and finger numbing.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes