# numb

> English word · Adjective · IPA /nʌm/ · frequency rank #14,373

## Definitions
1. Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
2. Emotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.
3. Dumb or stupid.
4. Causing numbness.

## Etymology
From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.

## Easily confused with
- **nut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-nut)
- **nun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-nun)
- **Nur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-nur)
- **nuts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-nuts)
- **nuns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-nuns)
- **number** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/numb-vs-number)
- **nm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nm-vs-numb)
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nu-vs-numb)
- **NB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nb-vs-numb)
- **nom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nom-vs-numb)
- **nab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nab-vs-numb)
- **nib** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nib-vs-numb)
- **nuh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nuh-vs-numb)
- **nim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nim-vs-numb)
- **neb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/neb-vs-numb)
- **NME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nme-vs-numb)
- **nob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nob-vs-numb)
- **name** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/name-vs-numb)
- **nude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nude-vs-numb)
- **null** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/null-vs-numb)

## Common misspellings (6)
`nmub`, `nnumb`, `nubm`, `numbb`, `nummb`, `unmb`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/numb