semicomatose
Barely responsive state
Semicomatose describes a state between full consciousness and coma—deeply unresponsive but not completely unconscious.
The term appears in medical contexts for patients who react minimally to stimuli: The patient remained semicomatose for three days after the overdose.
Informally, it describes extreme drowsiness or grogginess: I was semicomatose until my second cup of coffee.
Weak and unsteady
- drowsyNearly falling asleep
- sleepyWanting to doze
- heavy-eyedVisibly fatigued, needing sleep
- blearyDim from fatigue
nodding off · half-asleep · foggy · dazed · stuporous · sluggish · muddled · fuzzy
Suspended sensibility
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- catatonicImmobile from mental withdrawal
- vegetativeOf plant growth
- insensibleUnaware, without feeling
nonreactive · unaware · limp · motionless · glazed · blank stare · unreachable · withdrawn
Ceased to pay attention
- zombielikeResembling the undead
- autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
- going through motionsPerforming without genuine engagement
- checked outDeparted or zoned out
disengaged · spaced out · in a fog · braindead · numb · detached · oblivious · sleepwalking
Modified mental state
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
- brain injuryDamage to cranial organ
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- intoxicationSubstance-induced mental impairment
diabetic emergency · stroke · encephalopathy · hypoxia · metabolic · toxicity · head trauma · sedation
groggy
Weak and unsteady
- drowsyNearly falling asleep
- sleepyWanting to doze
- heavy-eyedVisibly fatigued, needing sleep
bleary · nodding off · half-asleep · foggy · dazed · stuporous · sluggish · muddled · fuzzy · disoriented
stupor
Suspended sensibility
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- catatonicImmobile from mental withdrawal
- vegetativeOf plant growth
insensible · nonreactive · unaware · limp · motionless · glazed · blank stare · unreachable · withdrawn · checked out
tuned out
Ceased to pay attention
- zombielikeResembling the undead
- autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
- going through motionsPerforming without genuine engagement
checked out · disengaged · spaced out · in a fog · braindead · numb · detached · oblivious · sleepwalking · couch potato
altered consciousness
Modified mental state
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
- brain injuryDamage to cranial organ
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
intoxication · diabetic emergency · stroke · encephalopathy · hypoxia · metabolic · toxicity · head trauma · sedation · hepatic
semicomatosealert
Warning or watchfulness
conscious · wide awake · lucid · aware · responsive
semicomatosehyperalert
Excessively aware and watchful
wide-awake · animated · energetic · lively · vivacious