Callous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈka-ləs/ cal·lous

Meaning & Definition of Callous

Callous (adjective)

  1. being hardened and thickened
  2. having calluses
  3. feeling no emotion

Callous (verb)

  1. to make callous

Callous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

    "the callous comment It's just a fish, when the boy's pet died, made him cry"

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Callous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Callous:

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Callous

Words with the opposite meaning of Callous:

Near Antonyms of Callous

Word Forms of Callous

Inflections: calloused, callousing, callouses

Derived words: callously (adverb), callousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Callous

Middle English, from Latin callosus, from callum, callus callous skin

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Callous

Frequently Asked Questions about Callous

What does "Callous" mean?

"Callous" means being hardened and thickened. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: being hardened and thickened.

What is another word for "Callous"?

Other words for "Callous" include affectless, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard, hard-boiled and hard-hearted. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Callous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Callous"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Callous". Common alternatives include affectless, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless and indurate.

What is the opposite of "Callous"?

Antonyms of "Callous" include charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive and softhearted. Near antonyms include benevolent, benignant, gentle and kind.

How do you use "Callous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Callous" in a sentence: "the callous comment It's just a fish, when the boy's pet died, made him cry".

Is "Callous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Callous" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Callous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Callous" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Callous"?

"Callous" is pronounced /ˈka-ləs/ and divided into syllables as cal·lous.