benumb C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings US /bɪˈnʌm/ UK /bɪˈnʌm/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to deprive of feeling or sensation; to deaden The bitter cold benumbed her fingers. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to deprive of feeling or... numbdeadendesensitizestupefyparalyzedull ↔ Opposites enlivensensitizerevive Word family Forms benumbeth Derived forms benumbedbenumbment Related forms numb Etymology AI details From Middle English benomen, past participle of benimen ('to deprive'), from Old English beniman ('to take away'); later associated with numb. beniman Old English niman Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Emotions & Feelings External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # benumb **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /bɪˈnʌm/ **IPA (UK):** /bɪˈnʌm/ ## Meanings 1. to deprive of feeling or sensation; to deaden ## Examples - The bitter cold benumbed her fingers. ## Synonyms - numb - deaden - desensitize - stupefy - paralyze - dull ## Antonyms - enliven - sensitize - revive ## Derived Forms - benumbed - benumbment ## Related Forms - numb ## Roots and Affixes - Root: beniman - Root: niman ## Etymology From Middle English benomen, past participle of benimen ('to deprive'), from Old English beniman ('to take away'); later associated with numb. ## AI Etymology Benumb is from Middle English benomen, past participle of benimen ('to deprive'), from Old English beniman ('to take away'); later associated with numb. Important recorded forms include beniman (Old English) and niman (Old English). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers to deprive of feeling or sensation; to deaden. The wider family includes derived forms such as benumbed and benumbment and related words such as numb. ## Topics - Emotions & Feelings markdown