Agency Dictionary
anesthetized
adjectivePronunciation: /əˈnes.θə.taɪzd/
In Portuguese: anestesiado
Psychology & MindWhat does “anesthetized” mean?
Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
Etymology
Past participle of the verb anesthetize, used as an adjective. The verb was formed in English in the 19th century from Greek anaisthetos, "without feeling", from an- ("without") and aisthesis ("sensation"), in step with the new medical terms anaesthesia and anaesthetic. From the patient who feels no pain, the adjective passed to the person or public that has stopped reacting.
Usage note
British English writes anaesthetised or anaesthetized. In the figurative sense the word implies that the numbness was caused by something, not that it is a trait of character.
Synonyms
- numb
- numbed
- desensitized
- insensible
- deadened
- apathetic
Word family
- anesthetize
- anesthesia
- anesthetic
- anesthetist
Usage examples
a future (or present) where culture and entertainment have been automated and anesthetized by traditional publishers
Writing.1 - The Titanic Theory
Concepts
- Algorithmic CurationAlgorithmic curation is the automated selection, ranking, and distribution of creative works based on predictive mathematical models and engagement metrics. It…
- Post-Literary EraA post-literary era is a cultural epoch where linear alphabetic reading ceases to be the dominant medium for storing, transmitting, and processing human knowledge. It is…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
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- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Resiliencenoun
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- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
- Abyssnoun
- A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
- Adversitynoun
- A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
- Affectnoun
- An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
- Anesthetizeverb
- To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
- Anesthetizingadjective
- Producing numbness, insensibility, or temporary relief from pain and critical awareness. In media studies, it describes content that pacifies audiences into mindless consumption.
- Arrogancenoun
- An offensive display of superiority, self-importance, or overbearing pride that disparages others and their contributions.
Also from these editions: terms
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- paperweightnoun
- A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
- omissionnoun
- The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- aestheticsnoun
- A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
- Authenticitynoun
- The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
- Catharticadjective
- Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
- helmnoun
- The wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered. Figuratively, the position of control or leadership.
- numbnessnoun
- The state of being unable to feel or react, in the body or, figuratively, in the mind and the will.
- proverbnoun
- A short, pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a perceived truth or piece of practical advice.
- salutationsnoun
- Formal gestures, greetings, or opening words of courteous address delivered upon meeting someone or beginning a discourse.
Also from these editions: concepts
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- Show, Don't TellShow, don't tell is a classic creative writing maxim advising authors to convey characters, emotions, and settings through sensory action rather than direct exposition…
- Authorial VoiceAuthorial voice is the distinct personality, stylistic rhythm, and ideological outlook that permeates a writer's work. It serves as an unmistakable literary fingerprint…
- Does Writing Have a Future?Does Writing Have a Future? is a book by Vilém Flusser. In Writing.1, the edition cites it briefly: Flusser bravely argued that writing does not have a future. Issue.16…
- RMS TitanicThe RMS Titanic is the ocean liner that was said to be unsinkable and sank after hitting an iceberg. In the Agency editorial it is the central allegory of the Titanic…
- Existential WritingExistential writing is the philosophical act of writing primarily as a commitment to truth, self-discovery, and human meaning rather than commercial acclaim. It views the…
- Vilém FlusserVilém Flusser is the thinker the Agency editorial cites for arguing that writing does not have a future. Writing.1 ties his name to the book Does Writing have a Future?…
- Baltasar GraciánBaltasar Gracián was a Spanish Jesuit writer of the 17th century, author of The Art of Worldly Wisdom, a collection of maxims. Writing.1 quotes him once, in a quotation…