What does stupor mean?
A stupor is a condition of shock, confusion, or near-unconsciousness, usually brought on by sudden distressing news, an injury, or overwhelming emotion. A person in a stupor may be physically unable to respond or may appear mentally frozen, as though the mind cannot process what has happened. The term also has a figurative use for a state of stunned surprise or bewilderment, as in descriptions of the public reaction to a disaster. In everyday speech, “daze” may sound more familiar, but “stupor” has a more formal and often more intense tone. It is useful when describing an emotional or psychological reaction that has temporarily suspended ordinary thought and behavior.
nounA state of shock, confusion, or near-unconsciousness in which a person is temporarily unable to think or respond normally. The word can also refer figuratively to a state of stunned surprise or bewilderment.
- A state of shock, confusion, or near-unconsciousness caused by a sudden event, injury, or strong emotion.
- A figurative state of stunned surprise, bewilderment, or emotional numbness.
"The news left him in a stupor for several minutes."
"She remained in a stupor after hearing the news."
"The scale of the disaster left residents in a state of stupor."
The plural is used when referring to separate episodes or instances of a stupor.
"The survivors emerged from their stupors in stages."
A stupor can freeze not only the body but also the mind: the word describes the moment when shock leaves you unable to think, speak, or make sense of what has happened.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stupor come from?
The word comes through Old French from Latin stupor, meaning numbness or insensibility. Latin stupor is related to stupefacies, a state of being made senseless, and to the root underlying forms such as English stupid and stupefy. English adopted the word in the 16th century, initially for a physical state of insensibility and later also for mental shock or bewilderment.
How stupor is actually used
Stupor is formal and literary. It is stronger and more lasting in implication than a brief daze, and the figurative sense is commonly used in journalism and literary description.
Easily confused with stupor
A stupor is a state of shock or near-unconsciousness, whereas stupefy is a verb meaning to make someone feel completely confused or astonished.