comatose

adjective
co·​ma·​tose | \ ˈkō-mə-ˌtōs How to pronounce comatose (audio) , ˈkä- How to pronounce comatose (audio) \

Definition of comatose

1 : of, resembling, or affected with coma The patient lay comatose, sustained by respirators.
2 : characterized by lethargic inertness : torpid a comatose economy Broadway was theatrically comatose that summer.

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Examples of comatose in a Sentence

She lay in a comatose state. the city's downtown has been comatose for years

Recent Examples on the Web

Pyongyang authorities insisted the U.S. envoy sent to retrieve the University of Virginia student sign a pledge to pay the bill before allowing Warmbier’s comatose body to return to the United States. Fox News, "Otto Warmbier’s parents file claim for seized North Korean cargo ship as part of $500M judgment against regime," 7 July 2019 The over-under for your optimistic friend who predicted nine wins to drop into a comatose state is three games. 8. Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, "Hyde: Embrace the pain? #TrustTheTank? Rules to survive this Dolphins season | Commentary," 23 July 2019 In 1985, Karen Ann Quinlan, the comatose patient whose case prompted a historic right-to-die court decision, died in New Jersey, at age 31. BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 11 June 2019 The confession has the contours of catharsis; Bonnie is making it, though, to a woman who is comatose. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, "Big Little Lies Forgot the Thing That Made It Great," 16 July 2019 In 1985, Karen Ann Quinlan, the comatose patient whose case prompted a historic right-to-die court decision, died in Morris Plains, N.J., at age 31. BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 10 June 2018 Just a few hours after throwing a wrench into the, well, line of succession, Logan keels over in a helicopter and lies comatose in a hospital, provoking his children and board of directors into action to find an interim CEO. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: HBO can't succeed with corporate media-family drama 'Succession'," 31 May 2018 Last year, a comatose Otto Warmbier, released by North Korea after more than 17 months in captivity, arrived in Cincinnati aboard a medevac flight; the 22-year-old college student, who had suffered severe brain damage, died six days later. BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 13 June 2018 They were discovered in a comatose state Sunday afternoon on a bench near a shopping center. Karla Adam, Washington Post, "British military called in to help police investigate poisoning of ex-Russian spy," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'comatose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of comatose

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for comatose

French comateux, from Greek kōmat-, kōma — see coma entry 1

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More Definitions for comatose

comatose

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of comatose

: in a coma

comatose

adjective
co·​ma·​tose | \ ˈkō-mə-ˌtōs How to pronounce comatose (audio) , ˈkäm-ə- How to pronounce comatose (audio) \

Medical Definition of comatose

: of, resembling, or affected with coma a comatose patient a comatose condition

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