UNRESPONSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unresponsive mean? 

• UNRESPONSIVE (adjective)
  The adjective UNRESPONSIVE has 3 senses:

1. not responding to some influence or stimulus

2. aloof or indifferent

3. not susceptible to suggestion or influence

  Familiarity information: UNRESPONSIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNRESPONSIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not responding to some influence or stimulus

Similar:

refractory (temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to a process or stimulus)

Also:

insensitive (not responsive to physical stimuli)

insensitive (deficient in human sensibility; not mentally or morally sensitive)

Antonym:

responsive (readily reacting or replying to people or events or stimuli; showing emotion)

Derivation:

unresponsiveness (the quality of being unresponsive; not reacting; as a quality of people, it is marked by a failure to respond quickly or with emotion to people or events)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Aloof or indifferent

Context example:

was unresponsive to her passionate advances

Similar:

cool (psychologically cool and unenthusiastic; unfriendly or unresponsive or showing dislike)

Derivation:

unresponsiveness (the quality of being unresponsive; not reacting; as a quality of people, it is marked by a failure to respond quickly or with emotion to people or events)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not susceptible to suggestion or influence

Similar:

insusceptible; unsusceptible (not susceptible to)

 Context examples 

Cardiac arrest is the non-fatal, sudden cessation of cardiac activity so that the victim subject/patient becomes unresponsive, with no normal breathing and no signs of circulation.

(Cardiac Arrest, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

[Sudden] cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of cardiac activity so that the victim typically becomes unresponsive, with no normal breathing and no signs of circulation.

(History of Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest, NCI Thesaurus)

The sudden cessation of cardiac activity in an individual who becomes unresponsive, without normal breathing and no signs of circulation.

(Cardiac Arrest, NCI Thesaurus)

"βGBP is effective against the most aggressive colorectal cancer cells and a wide range of other cancer cells equally unresponsive to current therapies.

(Molecule in Immune System Able to Trigger 'Suicide' of Cancerous Tumors, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"Oh, Martin, don't be cruel. You have not kissed me once. You are as unresponsive as a stone. And think what I have dared to do."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Unresponsive.

(Lansky Performance Status 0, NCI Thesaurus)

Emotionally unresponsive.

(Numb, NCI Thesaurus)

The bactericidal mechanism of ODLs and the fact that they bind to a site on the ribosome not exploited by any known antibiotic are very strong indicators that ODLs have the potential to treat infections that are unresponsive to other antibiotics.

(A New Class of Antibiotics to Combat Drug Resistance, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

He made the announcement as if the name alone would explain both his visit and its manner, but I could see, by my companion’s unresponsive face, that it meant no more to him than to me.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Then we'll get married on triolets that will sell," he asserted stoutly, putting his arm around her and drawing a very unresponsive sweetheart toward him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)