uhn-ree-SPAHN-siv
/ˌʌnɹiˈspɑnsɪv/
unresponsive is pronounced uhn-ree-SPAHN-siv (/ˌʌnɹiˈspɑnsɪv/). Unresponsive describes a person or system that does not react or respond to stimuli or questions. It implies a lack of timely or meaningful reaction, often signaling a need for intervention or adjustment. In medical or technical contexts, it can indicate non-responsiveness to prompts, signals, or treatment. The term conveys a state of non-responsiveness rather than active failure or opposition.
Unresponsive describes a person or system that does not react or respond to stimuli or questions. It implies a lack of timely or meaningful reaction, often signaling a need for intervention or adjustment. In medical or technical contexts, it can indicate non-responsiveness to prompts, signals, or treatment. The term conveys a state of non-responsiveness rather than active failure or opposition.
"The patient remained unresponsive for several minutes after the call for help."
"The device becomes unresponsive when faced with complex inputs."
"If the software is unresponsive, try restarting it or checking for updates."
Break it into three primary syllables: un - re - spon - sive, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌən.rɪˈspɒn.sɪv/. Start with the unstressed 'un' as a quick, neutral schwa, then a brief 'ri' as in 'rid', followed by a strong 'span' without exaggeration, and finish with a light 'siv' ending. The 'spon' bears the main focal stress; ensure the vowel in 'spon' is short and crisp. Tip: keep the jaw slightly closed, tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge, and avoid over-enunciating the final -sive.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the stress by stressing the first syllable (un-) instead of the third, and (2) lengthening the 'spon' part, turning it into 'spohn' rather than a crisp /ˈspɒn/. To correct: rehearse the word in slow motion focusing on the /ˌən.rɪˈspɒn.sɪv/ pattern, using minimal pairs like 'response' to feel the shift. Practice separating into three chunks: un- (unstressed), re-spon- (stressed), -sive (weak).
In US English, the /ɪ/ in the second syllable is often reduced toward a schwa in rapid speech, and /ɒ/ in 'spon' can be closer to /ɑ/ or /ɒ/. UK English tends to be slightly crisper on the second syllable with clearer /ɪ/ and /ɒ/ sounds; rhoticity is mild in some varieties, affecting the /r/ influence. Australian tends to a broader vowels; /ɒ/ may approach /ɒː/ in some speakers, while the final /v/ remains light and brief. Maintain /ˌən.rɪˈspɒn.sɪv/ with minor vowel shifts by accent.
Three challenges: (1) multi-morphemic structure with un- prefix requiring a light, almost silent onset; (2) the stressed third syllable /ˈspɒn/ where the vowel is short and the consonant cluster 'spn' is dense; (3) the final -sive /sɪv/ is quick and can drift toward /z/. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable and rehearsing the transition between /ˌən.rɪ/ and /ˈspɒn.sɪv/, focusing on keeping the tongue in a compact position for the cluster. IPA anchors help you tune the precise vowel length and voicing.
The letter combination 'sion' in similar words would create /ʒən/ or /ʃən/, but in unresponsive it's the 's' plus 'ive' forming /sɪv/ – the final /v/ is a voiced labiodental fricative that often shortens in rapid speech. Pay attention to the transition from the nasal /n/ to the voiced /v/; avoid inserting an extra vowel. Think: un - re - spon - sive, with the final /v/ tight and voiced.
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Unresponsive combines the prefix un- (a negative prefix of Old English origin, used to negate adjectives and past participles) with responsive, from Old French responsif or directly from Latin respondere (to answer, respond). The core adjective responsive entered Middle English via French influence, meaning capable of responding. The un- prefix has deep Germanic roots, dating to Proto-Germanic *un- or a similar negator that signals opposite meaning. Over time, un- productive or un- in front of adjectives became a productive pattern in English, yielding terms like unresponsive, unconscious, or unreal. The sense development for responsive centers on reaction to stimuli; adding un- emphasizes absence or failure to react rather than a contrary attitude. The term unresponsive gained prominence in medical and technical registries to describe patients who do not exhibit expected responses to commands or stimuli, as well as in human-computer interaction to indicate a system not producing feedback. First known uses appear in late 19th to early 20th century medical literature; by mid-20th century, with the rise of computers and automation, unresponsive became common in UX/UXD contexts to denote interfaces that fail to respond. The word’s evolution tracks a shift from clinical observation to technical diagnosability in everyday language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "unresponsive" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "unresponsive"
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