Nonresponsive Vs Unresponsive, Which One Is The Correct One?

Writing has become more accessible in this modern era. We have electric and intelligent devices that help us with the mistakes we make. Even in this moment, I am using the help of software that suggests the right words and corrects my spelling.

However, what happens when we have to choose between two words that, at first glance, have the same meaning? The software doesn’t help much in those situations because they usually don’t know the context of what we are writing.

The difference between “nonresponsive” and “unresponsive” is that “nonresponsive” refers to not giving a response. In contrast, “unresponsive” refers to not providing an answer or not responding to an action. Both terms are correct, as they are synonyms.

There are tons and tons of cases when we find ourselves wondering which option is the best. As adjectives, the only difference is that one refers to a person who does not react. As if in shock or fainted. In the medical world, it is commonly used to refer to patients who have been treated or that have lost consciousness.

Origin Of Words

If you look at it closely, the word “nonresponsive,” you will see that it is two words combined. The first one, “non,” is a prefix used to describe the failure to perform or lack of something. It is related to “not.” It also means an objection, a logical opposition, to negate the prefixed word.

The second word is “responsive.” It derives from the Latin word “responsivus,” first recorded in 1375-1425. It refers to answering, responding, replying, and being capable of receiving and answering outside stimuli. Together they form a denial of response in cases where an answer is expected.

A native English speaker may consider this an obvious explanation. Still, suppose you are speaking English as a second language. In that case, it is valuable information that will help you form and understand other words in the future. There are several words in all languages that are simply a combination of two words.

On the other hand, we have the idiom “unresponsive.” Let’s split this one also into two parts and see what we can find. First, we have “un,” which is a prefix that means, in adjectives, “not.” In nouns, it has the same meaning: the same, lack, absence, negative, or not. In this form, when a verb is used to create another verb, it means the opposite or reverse of the action. For example, to dress or to undress.

After understanding these prefixes, we can more clearly comprehend how they differ when applied to the same word, “responsive.” But clearly, “un” has more applicability than “non.”

How People Use The Words

Almost all the contexts are the same when using “nonresponsive” or “unresponsive.” They describe a person who does not respond when talked at. When “unresponsive” is used in medical circumstances, it usually means a severe condition. For example, the patient arrived at the hospital with dilated pupils, high blood pressure and was unresponsive. We had to rush him to the I.C.U. Another example outside of medicine is this one: I just sent a notification to all unresponsive members. This time, I warned them about a penalty. I am sure they will respond now.

“Nonresponsive” is used a little less frequently than “unresponsive.” For example, I tried talking to him, but he is nonresponsive. I will give him some space.

Does that make sense? If not, I will give you examples using both words in different situations.

Examples Of the Words In A Sentence

• Many of us inside the company tried to help or reason with our supervisors, but they were unresponsive. It seems like they didn’t care.
• One of the challenges doctors find with unresponsive patients is obtaining their medical history. The hospital database is not accurate, and that is affecting all of us.
• Danny stood there, quiet and unresponsive, on the left side of the house. He was still processing the bad news.
• He is unresponsive and anxious. I think it may be time to prescribe medication. The psychiatrist told me that when we were outside.
• If he confirmed that Mary was unresponsive, he is implying that all the gossip is true. I want to believe it is a lie. I really do.
• My smile is crooked because of the scarred, unresponsive side of my face. But my other half compensates.
• The princess tipped her head back, and he kissed her unresponsive lips.
• As expected, he got an unresponsive answer.
• She developed a high-grade fever that was unresponsive to the routine line of treatment. We had to apply a triple dose to lower it.
• In contrast to other complications, pelvic dysfunctions are often nonresponsive to some treatments. But depending on the patient, a solution is always found when searching for options.
• In non-responsive cases, topical creams show an appropriate response. At least, that is what the doctor told me.
• These effects were nonresponsive to intravenous steroids, and stitch removal was needed. We cleaned everything and stitched it back.
• In non-responsive treatment, amputation may be an option.
• A heart transplant was completed despite the presence of a nonresponsive condition.
• It has been successful in reducing unwanted effects and in handling unresponsive patients. It is a new experimental drug, but it is showing great results.
• Our case was found to be nonresponsive to therapy. But we are considering other treatment options, and we expect to have an answer by the end of the week.
• There are eight patients in the responsive group and eight in the non-responsive group. All sixteen of them have the exact same symptoms.
• A nonresponsive police task force is cancer for general public safety. We need the police to start doing their jobs.
• The cat was unresponsive, though he was still breathing and his heart was still beating.
• Her husband was unresponsive and covered in vomit. She immediately called 911, and they arrived shortly after.
• My computer is nonresponsive to anything I try to do. I think it is time for a new one. Any suggestions?
• Your unresponsive face makes me angrier. I don’t know what’s going through your mind, and that is frustrating.
• If the patient was unresponsive to all treatments, oxygen alone was applied.
• The doctor said that Hugo was alone at home. He was unresponsive when he first noticed him. He immediately rushed to help him.

It was easier to put together more examples when I used unresponsive than when I used nonresponsive. The latter is used more in the medical world. Nonetheless, I was always trying to incorporate examples that were specific to what I explained without causing confusion in your mind. You can substitute one word for the other in almost all of them, and the sentence will still make sense. We have to remind ourselves, however, that unresponsive covers a bit more ground than nonresponsive.

Conclusion

We have covered plenty of good examples of different situations using “nonresponsive” and “unresponsive.” The similarity between both words is very high. In most cases, either one will work since both mean roughly the same thing. In fact, they are actually registered as synonyms on some websites. Many people use them to convey the same idea, and we can understand whatever is being said.

Remember the origin of the word’s prefixes: non means not, opposition, objection. Meanwhile, un means no, lack, or absence. As verbs, they mean the opposite of the action.

I hope you learned as much as I did. Don’t be unresponsive to this article.