numb

[/nʌm/]
adjective/verb
entorpecido, dormente, insensível
1. Unable to feel sensation in a part of the body; lacking the ability to perceive touch, temperature, or pain
My fingers went numb from the cold.
Meus dedos ficaram dormente pelo frio.
2. Emotionally unresponsive or indifferent; unable or unwilling to feel
After the tragedy, she felt numb and couldn't cry.
Após a tragédia, ela se sentia insensível e não conseguia chorar.
3. To make something unable to feel sensation; to cause numbness
The anesthetic will numb the area before surgery.
O anestésico vai entorpecer a área antes da cirurgia.
4. To make someone emotionally unresponsive; to diminish emotional capacity
Repeated rejection numbed her heart.
A rejeição repetida tornou seu coração insensível.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, 'numb' is frequently used metaphorically to describe emotional detachment or shock, particularly in discussions of trauma, grief, or stress. In medical contexts, both cultures recognize the term for physical numbness caused by cold, injury, or anesthesia. The emotional connotation has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary mental health discussions across both regions.
NYC Slang
dead inside, frozen (emotionally)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
insensibleunfeelingdeadenedfrozenparalyzedindifferentapathetic
Antonyms / Antônimos
sensitivefeelingresponsiveawareemotional

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
entorpecido, dormente, insensível
Most common translations used in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
dormente, formigando
Colloquial usage emphasizing the 'pins and needles' sensation
São Paulo
entorpecido, sem sensação
More formal usage in urban professional contexts
Portugal
adormecido, insensível, entorpecido
Portuguese preference for 'adormecido' to describe physical numbness

Related Words

numbnessnubbinganestheticsensationdesensitizestupor

Related Idioms & Phrases

numb to the world
go numb
numb and blind
feel numb about something
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