adj · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈsɛnsləs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S EH1 N S L AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Without feeling or desire to work; deprived of sensation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The blow to his head rendered him senseless; he didn’t awaken until he was in the ambulance.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unconscious, insensible
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Lacking meaning or purpose; without common sense.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
What a senseless waste of money.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pointless, meaningless
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Without a discernible meaning or purpose, especially of a violent or evil act.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The school shooting was a senseless act of violence.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Without consideration, awareness or sound judgement
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He took senseless risks, not even aware of the danger he was in.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unreasonable, unwise, stupid
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
(of especially persons) lacking sense or understanding or judgment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: nitwitted, soft-witted, witless
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
unresponsive to stimulation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he lay insensible where he had fallen
drugged and senseless
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: insensible
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
not marked by the use of reason
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
mindless violence
reasonless hostility
a senseless act
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mindless, reasonless
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sent-der. Proto-Italic *sentiō Latin sentiō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin sēnsusbor. Proto-Germanic *sinnaz Frankish *sinnbor. Vulgar Latin *sennus Old French sensbor. Middle English sense English sense Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English senseless From sense + -less. Compare Saterland Frisian sinloos (“senseless, foolish”).
Across languages
Translations
65 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
безчувствен
(bezčuvstven)
— bereft of feeling
Danish:
følelsesløs
— bereft of feeling
Finnish:
tunnoton
— bereft of feeling
Galician:
sen sentido
— bereft of feeling
German:
empfindungslos
— bereft of feeling
German:
ohne Gefühl
— bereft of feeling
Hindi:
भावहीन
(bhāvhīn)
— bereft of feeling
Portuguese:
insensível
— bereft of feeling
Russian:
бесчу́вственный
(besčúvstvennyj)
— bereft of feeling
Bulgarian:
в безсъзнание
(v bezsǎznanie)
— bereft of consciousness
Danish:
bevidstløs
— bereft of consciousness
Finnish:
tajuton
— bereft of consciousness
German:
ohnmächtig
— bereft of consciousness
German:
bewusstlos
— bereft of consciousness
German:
besinnungslos
— bereft of consciousness
Hindi:
मूर्छित
(mūrchit)
— bereft of consciousness
Italian:
svenuto
— bereft of consciousness
Portuguese:
inconsciente
— bereft of consciousness
Russian:
без созна́ния
(bez soznánija)
— bereft of consciousness
Russian:
бесчу́вственный
(besčúvstvennyj)
— bereft of consciousness
Turkish:
baygın
— bereft of consciousness
Bulgarian:
безсмислен
(bezsmislen)
— lacking meaning or purpose
Danish:
sanseløs
— lacking meaning or purpose
Esperanto:
sensenca
— lacking meaning or purpose
Finnish:
järjetön
— lacking meaning or purpose
Finnish:
mieletön
— lacking meaning or purpose
Finnish:
älytön
— lacking meaning or purpose
Finnish:
älyvapaa
— lacking meaning or purpose
Galician:
sen razón
— lacking meaning or purpose
German:
sinnlos
— lacking meaning or purpose
Hindi:
अर्थहीन
(arthahīn)
— lacking meaning or purpose
Hindi:
निरर्थक
(nirarthak)
— lacking meaning or purpose
Irish:
gan chiall
— lacking meaning or purpose
Italian:
senza capo né coda
— lacking meaning or purpose
Latvian:
bezjēdzīgs
— lacking meaning or purpose
Māori:
koretake
— lacking meaning or purpose
Norwegian Bokmål:
meningsløs
— lacking meaning or purpose
Norwegian Bokmål:
meiningslaus
— lacking meaning or purpose
Norwegian Nynorsk:
meiningslaus
— lacking meaning or purpose
Plautdietsch:
sennlooss
— lacking meaning or purpose
Plautdietsch:
onveninftich
— lacking meaning or purpose
Portuguese:
absurdo
— lacking meaning or purpose
Russian:
бессмы́сленный
(bessmýslennyj)
— lacking meaning or purpose
Spanish:
sin sentido
— lacking meaning or purpose
Ukrainian:
безглу́здий
(bezhlúzdyj)
— lacking meaning or purpose
Bulgarian:
необмислен
(neobmislen)
— without consideration
Finnish:
järjetön
— without consideration
Finnish:
mieletön
— without consideration
Finnish:
älytön
— without consideration
Finnish:
älyvapaa
— without consideration
Galician:
irracional
— without consideration
German:
unüberlegt
— without consideration
German:
unvernünftig
— without consideration
German:
vernunftlos
— without consideration
Ancient Greek:
ἄφρων
(áphrōn)
— without consideration
Hindi:
विचारहीन
(vicārhīn)
— without consideration
Irish:
díchéillí
— without consideration
Latin:
excors
— without consideration
Manx:
meecheeallagh
— without consideration
Māori:
pōrewarewa
— without consideration
Māori:
pōrewharewha
— without consideration
Portuguese:
insensível
— without consideration
Russian:
бессмы́сленный
(bessmýslennyj)
— without consideration
Russian:
необду́манный
(neobdúmannyj)
— without consideration
Ukrainian:
безглу́здий
(bezhlúzdyj)
— without consideration
