Benumb vs. Numb

Benumbverb

(transitive) To make numb, as by cold or anesthetic.

Numbadjective

Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.

‘fingers numb with cold’; ‘legs numb from kneeling’;

Benumbverb

To deaden, dull (the mind, faculties, etc.).

Numbadjective

Emotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.

‘numb with shock; numb with boredom’;

Benumbverb

To make torpid; to deprive of sensation or sensibility; to stupefy; as, a hand or foot benumbed by cold.

‘The creeping death benumbed her senses first.’;

Numbadjective

(obsolete) Causing numbness.

Benumbverb

make numb or insensitive;

‘The shock numbed her senses’;

Numbverb

(transitive) To cause to become numb (physically or emotionally).

‘The dentist gave me novocaine to numb my tooth before drilling, thank goodness.’; ‘When I first heard the news, I was numbed by the shock.’;

Numbverb

(transitive) To cause (a feeling) to be less intense.

‘He turned to alcohol to numb his pain.’;

Numbverb

(transitive) To cause (the mind, faculties, etc.) to be less acute.

Numbverb

(intransitive) To become numb (especially physically).

Numbadjective

Enfeebled in, or destitute of, the power of sensation and motion; rendered torpid; benumbed; insensible; as, the fingers or limbs are numb with cold.

Numbadjective

Producing numbness; benumbing; as, the numb, cold night.

Numbverb

To make numb; to deprive of the power of sensation or motion; to render senseless or inert; to deaden; to benumb; to stupefy.

‘For lazy winter numbs the laboring hand.’; ‘Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.’;

Numbverb

make numb or insensitive;

‘The shock numbed her senses’;

Numbadjective

lacking sensation;

‘my foot is asleep’; ‘numb with cold’;

Numbadjective

(followed by `to') not showing human feeling or sensitivity; unresponsive;

‘passersby were dead to our plea for help’; ‘numb to the cries for mercy’;

Numbadjective

so frightened as to be unable to move; stunned or paralyzed with terror;

‘petrified with fear’; ‘she was petrified by the eerie sound’; ‘too numb with fear to move’;