WordGarden.iounresponsiveness
B1Pronunciation
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Meanings
Noun
a state of not reacting to stimulation or attempts to wake or engage someone
a failure to answer or react in conversation, messaging, or other communication
a state in which a device, app, or system stops reacting to user input
Beyond the definition
Imagine shouting into a vast canyon. Sometimes you get an echo, but other times there is only silence. That silence is like unresponsiveness. It describes a lack of reaction or reply, whether from a person, a system, or an emotional state. A child might show unresponsiveness after a shock, a computer program might become unresponsive if overloaded, and someone with severe depression may seem emotionally unresponsive. It is more than simply not answering; it often suggests an inability or unwillingness to engage.
Unresponsiveness describes a state of not reacting, replying, or showing any sign of acknowledgment to stimuli. It's more than simply being quiet; it implies an absence of engagement, whether physical, emotional, or functional.
You might encounter unresponsiveness in many contexts. A doctor might note a patient's unresponsiveness to pain as a serious symptom. In customer service, unresponsiveness from a company can be incredibly frustrating. A machine displaying unresponsiveness often means it's frozen or malfunctioning.
Sometimes it is accidental or caused by illness, stress, or technical failure. In other cases, it can be deliberate. A person may choose not to reply in order to set a boundary, avoid conflict, or refuse pressure.
Psychologically, prolonged unresponsiveness can be a sign of deeper issues like depression, trauma, or neurological conditions. It's important to distinguish between temporary silence and persistent unresponsiveness, as the latter often requires professional attention.
So, whether it comes from a person, a machine, or someone's emotional state, unresponsiveness points to a situation where a response is expected but does not come.
Examples
- 1
Medical concern
The nurse became concerned when the patient showed signs of unresponsiveness.
- 2
Medical treatment
His unresponsiveness to the treatment surprised the doctors.
- Patternunresponsiveness to + input/request
not reacting to it
- 3
Customer service
Several customers complained about the company's unresponsiveness to emails.
- 4
Software problem
The app's unresponsiveness after the update made it hard to use.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Personal interaction
During the conversation, her unresponsiveness made him feel ignored.
See also
Similar
- nonresponsiveness
- nonresponse
- lack of response
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- patient unresponsiveness
- emotional unresponsiveness
- unresponsiveness to treatment
- unresponsiveness to questions
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unresponsivenessnoun