insensible
adjective
in·sen·si·ble (ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 
1
: incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation: such as
a
: lacking sensory perception or ability to react
insensible to pain
b
: unconscious
knocked insensible by a sudden blow
c
: not endowed with life or spirit : insentient
insensible earth
2
a
: unaware
insensible of their danger
b
: lacking emotional response : apathetic, indifferent
insensible to fear
3
: not intelligible : meaningless
4
: imperceptible
dampened by an insensible dew
broadly : slight, gradual
insensible motion
5
: lacking delicacy or refinement
6
archaic : stupid, senseless
insensibility
(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun insensibleness
(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl-nəs
noun insensibly
(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-sə-blē
adverb 
Synonyms
- cold
- senseless
- unconscious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She was knocked insensible by the collision. if a choking person is insensible, you should lay them down on their back before performing the Heimlich maneuver
Recent Examples on the Web But the Cylinder Sling by Building Block flirts with such attitude without becoming rude or insensible. 
Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The novel positions him as insensible to agendas, hopelessly subject to the whims of the altruistic and the cruel. Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022 Armando Iannucci’s brilliant 2017 farce, The Death of Stalin, explores that question on a literal plane, with Stalin’s deputies frantically maneuvering for position while Stalin, not yet entirely dead, lies insensible and unattended on the floor. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Apr. 2022 Combat troops get inured to death, but Yaroslav’s comrades seemed to me beyond inured, insensible. New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 Being sick also can lead to insensible fluid loss, such as sweating from fever or blowing your nose, Rosner says, while vomiting or diarrhea can exacerbate fluid loss. Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021 Over the next several hundred pages, naïve and self-deceiving Russ remains insensible to the desires of his wife Marion, who makes plans to reunite with her old flame and rediscover her old, uninhibited self. Merve Emre, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2021 Through some accidental sorcery involving a spreadsheet, Gerald has transferred his consciousness into the app, leaving his insensible body behind in his apartment. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2021 Elder is not insensible to homelessness, and proposes to solve it by waiving California’s Environmental Quality Act, which mandates disclosure about the environmental impact of most housing developments. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2021 See More
Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The novel positions him as insensible to agendas, hopelessly subject to the whims of the altruistic and the cruel. Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022 Armando Iannucci’s brilliant 2017 farce, The Death of Stalin, explores that question on a literal plane, with Stalin’s deputies frantically maneuvering for position while Stalin, not yet entirely dead, lies insensible and unattended on the floor. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Apr. 2022 Combat troops get inured to death, but Yaroslav’s comrades seemed to me beyond inured, insensible. New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 Being sick also can lead to insensible fluid loss, such as sweating from fever or blowing your nose, Rosner says, while vomiting or diarrhea can exacerbate fluid loss. Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021 Over the next several hundred pages, naïve and self-deceiving Russ remains insensible to the desires of his wife Marion, who makes plans to reunite with her old flame and rediscover her old, uninhibited self. Merve Emre, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2021 Through some accidental sorcery involving a spreadsheet, Gerald has transferred his consciousness into the app, leaving his insensible body behind in his apartment. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2021 Elder is not insensible to homelessness, and proposes to solve it by waiving California’s Environmental Quality Act, which mandates disclosure about the environmental impact of most housing developments. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin insensibilis, from in- + sensibilis sensible
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Kids Definition
insensible
adjective
in·sen·si·ble in-ˈsen-sə-bəl
1
: not able to feel
The animal is insensible to pain.
2
: not aware of or caring about something
They seemed insensible to the danger.
Medical Definition
insensible
adjective
in·sen·si·ble -ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl
1
: incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation: as
a
: unconscious
knocked insensible by a sudden blow
b
: lacking sensory perception or ability to react
insensible to pain
c
: lacking emotional response : apathetic
2
: not perceived by the senses
insensible perspiration
insensible
adjective
1
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness if a choking person is insensible, you should lay them down on their back before performing the Heimlich maneuver Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unconscious
- senseless
- cold
- semiconscious
- anesthetized
- collapsed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conscious
- aware
- awake
- up
- alert
- revived
- resuscitated
2
as in invisible
not perceptible by a sense or by the mind the fragile glass flowers can be damaged by even the most insensible tremors Synonyms & Similar Words
- invisible
- inappreciable
- imperceptible
- impalpable
- subtle
- indistinguishable
- inaudible
- unseen
- obscure
- intangible
- indistinct
- hidden
- faint
- slight
- inconspicuous
- insignificant
- trivial
- concealed
- unnoticeable
- vague
- buried
- unseeable
- disguised
- unapparent
- slender
- shrouded
- liminal
- covert
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sensible
- perceptible
- appreciable
- discernible
- palpable
- ponderable
- visible
- observable
- conspicuous
- obvious
- tangible
- audible
- discernable
- recognizable
- evident
- plain
- clear
- noticeable
- prominent
- apparent
- striking
- manifest
- significant
- distinct
- straightforward
- eye-catching
3
as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern city hall remains insensible to our complaints about the downtown parking situation Synonyms & Similar Words
- nonchalant
- casual
- indifferent
- unconcerned
- careless
- disinterested
- uninterested
- apathetic
- detached
- insouciant
- incurious
- complacent
- uncurious
- stoic
- perfunctory
- calm
- numb
- insensitive
- callous
- cold
- aloof
- unfeeling
- unemotional
- tepid
- dispassionate
- heedless
- impervious
- lukewarm
- halfhearted
- impassive
- pococurante
- hard-hearted
- phlegmatic
- mindless
- lethargic
- stolid
- listless
- remote
- stoical
- cool
- unimpressed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- interested
- aware
- concerned
- conscientious
- attentive
- sensitive
- mindful
- zealous
- warm
- ardent
- fervent
- passionate
- heedful
- keen
- caring
- warmhearted
4
as in insensate
lacking animate awareness or sensation even the canyon's insensible rocks seemed to mock the stranded climber's utter helplessness Synonyms & Similar Words
- unconscious
- insensate
- inanimate
- unfeeling
- senseless
- lifeless
- insentient
- comatose
- exanimate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sensible
- feeling
- sensitive
- conscious
- aware
- cognizant
- animate
- sensate
- sentient
- lively
- animated
- vibrant
5
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste married an insensible brute upon whom the niceties of life were completely lost Synonyms & Similar Words
- vulgar
- crass
- rude
- common
- coarse
- crude
- gross
- clumsy
- rough
- uncultured
- uncouth
- low
- tasteless
- illiberal
- rugged
- uncultivated
- unpolished
- raffish
- unrefined
- ill-bred
- lowbrow
- roughneck
- insensitive
- thoughtless
- ungentlemanly
- loutish
- cloddish
- clownish
- lumpish
- inconsiderate
- barbarous
- incult
- boorish
- unsophisticated
- churlish
- indelicate
- lubberly
- rough-hewn
- oafish
- lowbred
- rustic
- uncivilized
- inelegant
- graceless
- barbaric
- unmannerly
- provincial
- unmannered
- mannerless
- tacky
- countrified
- rustical
- countryfied
- animallike
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smooth
- civilized
- genteel
- cultured
- aristocratic
- tasteful
- restrained
- graceful
- elegant
- polished
- patrician
- refined
- cultivated
- sensitive
- courtly
- well-bred
- gracious
- considerate
- thoughtful
- sophisticated
- ultrarefined
- urbane
- citified
6
as in oblivious
not informed about or aware of something a scientist who usually is so engrossed in his work that he is quite insensible of the passage of time Synonyms & Similar Words
- oblivious
- ignorant
- unaware
- unconscious
- unmindful
- unacquainted
- uninformed
- clueless
- incognizant
- unwitting
- unknowing
- innocent
- nescient
- untaught
- uneducated
- inconscient
- heedless
- inattentive
- unschooled
- abstracted
- in the dark
- absent
- absentminded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conscious
- aware
- acquainted
- cognizant
- informed
- conversant
- grounded
- mindful
- knowing
- hip
- taught
- knowledgeable
- witting
- educated
- sensitive
- heedful
- observant
- schooled
- plugged-in
- up-to-date
- sentient
- au courant
- figurative
- figuratively
- figurativeness
- figurativenesses
- figure
- figure caster
- figure eight
- figure in
- figure into
- figure of authority
- figure of contempt
- figure of fun
- figure of fun/ridicule
- figure of merit
- figure of ridicule
- figure of speech
- figure of the earth
- figure on
- figure out
- figure skate
- figure skater
- figure skating
- figure stone
- figure-four scissors
- figure-four trap