CEFR C1

benumb

verb

Meaning

Deprive of sensation or feeling, often due to cold, shock, or emotional distress.

Examples

The icy wind began to benumb her exposed skin, making it difficult to move her hands.
After hearing the tragic news, a profound sadness seemed to benumb her senses, leaving her in a daze.

Synonyms: numb, deadened, paralyze, stupefy

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benumb (C1)

verb

Pronunciation: /bɪˈnʌm/

Definition

Deprive of sensation or feeling, often due to cold, shock, or emotional distress.

Examples

The icy wind began to benumb her exposed skin, making it difficult to move her hands.
After hearing the tragic news, a profound sadness seemed to benumb her senses, leaving her in a daze.
The dentist administered a local anesthetic to benumb the area before starting the procedure.

How to Use benumb

benumb with cold (collocation): To make numb due to extreme cold. — "His fingers were benumbed with cold after an hour in the snow."
benumb the senses (collocation): To dull or deaden one's ability to feel or perceive. — "The sheer volume of information threatened to benumb her senses."

Synonyms of benumb

Words with a similar meaning to benumb:

Antonyms of benumb

Words with the opposite meaning to benumb:

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