What does "stupefy" mean?

The meaning of "stupefy" is to make someone unable to think or feel properly, which aligns perfectly with the choice of making someone "less alert." When a person is stupefied, they may be in a state of shock or bewilderment, leading to reduced awareness or responsiveness to their surroundings. This definition captures the essence of the word and its implication of dulled senses or mental clarity. The other choices do not align with this definition: being overly preoccupied refers to a state of distraction, a description of a province deals with territorial matters, and being unaffected by passion indicates emotional detachment—none of these concepts reflect the meaning inherent in "stupefy."