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Unresponsive Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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unresponsive

[ˌʌnrɪˈspɒnsɪv ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

medical

Not reacting to stimuli or not responding to treatment.

Synonyms

insensitive, unreactive, unruffled.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unresponsive

Duplicate entry, same as the first 'unresponsive'.
unreactive

Often used in a scientific or technical context to describe substances or people that do not undergo reactions easily.

  • The chemical was unreactive under normal conditions
  • In their experiments, the scientists noted that the substance remained unreactive
unruffled

Used to describe someone who remains calm and composed, even in stressful or chaotic situations.

  • She remained unruffled throughout the crisis
  • His unruffled demeanor was reassuring to everyone around him
insensitive

Typically used to describe a person's lack of understanding or concern for the feelings of others, often in social or emotional contexts. It has a negative connotation.

  • His insensitive remarks hurt her feelings
  • She was criticized for being insensitive to the needs of her coworkers

Examples of usage

  • He remained unresponsive to the medication.
  • The patient was unresponsive to the doctor's questions.
  • The unresponsive patient needed immediate attention from the medical team.
Context #2 | Adjective

technical

Slow to respond or react; not responsive.

Synonyms

passive, uncommunicative, unyielding.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unresponsive

Used to describe someone who is not reacting, especially in situations where a reaction is expected, such as in emergencies or in conversations where feedback is needed.

  • Despite several attempts to engage him, he remained unresponsive.
  • The patient was unresponsive even after administering the medication.
unyielding

Describes someone or something that is firm and refuses to be moved or changed, often used in contexts of strong determination or stubbornness.

  • The leader was unyielding in his demands, not willing to compromise.
  • Despite the opposition, she remained unyielding in her stance on the issue.
uncommunicative

Refers to someone who does not share thoughts, information, or feelings; often used in social and interpersonal contexts to describe a lack of verbal interaction.

  • He was uncommunicative about his problems, making it difficult for others to help him.
  • During the meeting, she was uncommunicative, offering no input or feedback.
passive

Describes someone who does not take action or initiative, often in situations where others are actively participating or showing enthusiasm.

  • He took a passive role in the project, letting others make decisions.
  • She remained passive during the discussion, contributing very little to the conversation.

Examples of usage

  • The unresponsive website took a long time to load.
  • The unresponsive keyboard made it difficult to type.
  • The unresponsive software needed to be updated.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • People can become unresponsive due to extreme stress, where their brains shut down in response to overwhelming situations.
  • In psychology, being unresponsive can indicate withdrawal or depression, where an individual may avoid interacting with others.
  • Some disorders, like catatonia, can manifest as unresponsiveness, where an individual may not move or speak for an extended period.

Technology

  • In tech terms, 'unresponsive' often describes websites that fail to load or interact correctly on different devices.
  • An unresponsive application can frustrate users, as it indicates a failure in the software to process information or user commands.
  • This term is also used in programming to differentiate between applications that actively respond to user input and those that do not.

Medicine

  • Unresponsiveness in a medical context can describe patients who do not react to stimuli, potentially signaling serious health issues.
  • Assessing a person's responsiveness is critical in emergency medicine to evaluate their level of consciousness.
  • Certain medical conditions, like a stroke or head injury, can lead to a state of unresponsiveness requiring immediate medical attention.

Literature

  • Literary characters sometimes appear unresponsive to convey emotional depth, reflecting their internal struggles.
  • In poetry, unresponsiveness is often used as a metaphor for failed communication in relationships.
  • Unresponsive narratives can create tension in stories, making readers curious about the reasons behind a character's silence.

Sociology

  • In social situations, unresponsiveness may be a way to express disinterest or disagreement without verbal confrontation.
  • Unresponsive behavior can be observed in large groups, where individuals might not engage due to social norms or pressures.
  • Cultural factors influence how unresponsiveness is perceived; in some cultures, silence may signify respect, while in others, it may be viewed as rudeness.

Origin of 'unresponsive'

The word 'unresponsive' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'responsive' meaning 'reacting quickly and positively'. The term first appeared in the English language in the mid-19th century.

See also: nonresponsive, unresponsively.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,530, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.