Callous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Callous
Callous (adjective)
- being hardened and thickened
- having calluses
- feeling no emotion
Callous (verb)
- to make callous
Callous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
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
- CEFR level: C2 English Vocabulary — Page 11
- Topics: Ethics & Values
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.