Unresponsiveness: meaning, definitions and examples

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unresponsiveness

[ˌənrɪˈspɒnsɪvnəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical

Lack of reaction or response to stimuli, often seen in comatose patients.

Synonyms

inactivity, insensitivity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unresponsiveness	This word can be used in a general sense to describe not reacting or replying, very similar to the first use mentioned. Often associated with negative implications. The unresponsiveness of the device could indicate a technical problem. The unresponsive behavior of the team led to frustration among the members.
insensitivity	This term is used to describe a lack of emotional sensitivity or consideration, often carrying a negative connotation. His insensitivity to her feelings caused a lot of tension in their relationship. The insensitive remarks made by the politician drew criticism.
inactivity	This word is often used to describe a state of idleness or lack of activity, especially in physical or behavioral contexts. Long periods of inactivity can lead to health problems. The inactivity of the committee delayed the project.

Word

Description / Examples

unresponsiveness

This word can be used in a general sense to describe not reacting or replying, very similar to the first use mentioned. Often associated with negative implications.

The unresponsiveness of the device could indicate a technical problem.
The unresponsive behavior of the team led to frustration among the members.

insensitivity

This term is used to describe a lack of emotional sensitivity or consideration, often carrying a negative connotation.

His insensitivity to her feelings caused a lot of tension in their relationship.
The insensitive remarks made by the politician drew criticism.

inactivity

This word is often used to describe a state of idleness or lack of activity, especially in physical or behavioral contexts.

Long periods of inactivity can lead to health problems.
The inactivity of the committee delayed the project.

Examples of usage

The patient's unresponsiveness to painful stimuli raised concerns among the medical staff.
Her unresponsiveness to treatment indicated a more serious underlying condition.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

emotional

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or willingness to engage.

Synonyms

apathy, indifference.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unresponsiveness	Best used to describe a lack of reaction or reply, especially in situations where a response is expected, such as in communication or medical patient reactions. Her unresponsiveness to the emails worried her manager The patient's unresponsiveness to the treatment was concerning
apathy	This word is suitable when describing a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern, often in emotional, social, or political contexts. The student's apathy towards their schoolwork was evident Political apathy among the youth is a growing concern
indifference	Best used to indicate a lack of interest or concern about something or someone, often suggested in situations involving personal relationships or moral judgments. His indifference to everyone's feelings made him unpopular Her indifference towards the charity surprised everyone

Word

Description / Examples

unresponsiveness

Best used to describe a lack of reaction or reply, especially in situations where a response is expected, such as in communication or medical patient reactions.

Her unresponsiveness to the emails worried her manager
The patient's unresponsiveness to the treatment was concerning

apathy

This word is suitable when describing a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern, often in emotional, social, or political contexts.

The student's apathy towards their schoolwork was evident
Political apathy among the youth is a growing concern

indifference

Best used to indicate a lack of interest or concern about something or someone, often suggested in situations involving personal relationships or moral judgments.

His indifference to everyone's feelings made him unpopular
Her indifference towards the charity surprised everyone

Examples of usage

His unresponsiveness to her efforts to connect left her feeling frustrated and alone.
The team's unresponsiveness to the new project proposal was disheartening.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Unresponsiveness can be a sign of mental fatigue or overload, where a person feels too overwhelmed to respond.
In interpersonal communication, unresponsiveness can create feelings of frustration or confusion in the other person.
Social media has increased instances of unresponsiveness, as people may scroll past messages without replying.

Health

In medical terms, unresponsiveness can refer to a state where a patient does not react to stimuli, indicating a potential health crisis.
Conditions such as a stroke or severe head injury can lead to a state of unresponsiveness, affecting a person's ability to interact.

Technology

In the realm of tech, 'unresponsiveness' can describe software that freezes or fails to react to user input, leading to user frustration.
Websites may become unresponsive due to heavy traffic or coding errors, disrupting user experience.

Social Dynamics

Unresponsiveness in relationships can indicate underlying issues, such as communication breakdowns or emotional detachment.
Cultural differences may affect what is perceived as unresponsiveness; some cultures value silence or non-verbal communication.

Literature

In literature, characters exhibiting unresponsiveness often symbolize deeper emotional struggles or conflicts within the story.
Classic novels frequently explore themes of unresponsiveness as a way to critique societal norms and relationships.

Translations

Translations of the word "unresponsiveness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falta de resposta

🇮🇳 असक्रियता

🇩🇪 Unempfindlichkeit

🇮🇩 tidak responsif

🇺🇦 відсутність реакції

🇵🇱 brak reakcji

🇯🇵 反応がない

🇫🇷 absence de réponse

🇪🇸 falta de respuesta

🇹🇷 tepki vermeme

🇰🇷 반응 없음

🇸🇦 عدم الاستجابة

🇨🇿 neodpovídání

🇸🇰 neodpovedanie

🇨🇳 无反应

🇸🇮 odsotnost odziva

🇮🇸 viðbragðsleysi

🇰🇿 жауапсыздық

🇬🇪 რეაგირების არ ქონა

🇦🇿 reaksiya verməmək

🇲🇽 falta de respuesta