Insensitive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv/ in·sen·si·tive

Meaning & Definition of Insensitive

Insensitive (adjective)

  1. lacking feeling or tact
  2. not responsive or susceptible
  3. not physically or chemically sensitive

Insensitive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "an insensitive remark about his deceased wife that was incredibly rude"

    similar: affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, ironhearted, merciless, obdurate, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, stony, stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic
    related: boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking, grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out, oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle, abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, virulent, barbarous, bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, evil-minded, savage, vicious, austere, cold, frosty
    opposite: charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted
    near: benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind, clement, indulgent, lenient, mild, cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, tolerant, understanding, affectionate, fond, loving

  2. lacking in sensation or feeling

    "fingers rendered insensitive by the cold"

    similar: asleep, benumbed, dead, numb, numbed, torpid, unfeeling
    related: chilled, nipped, anesthetized, cocainized, deadened, drugged, stupefied, blunted, dulled, obtunded, insensible, senseless, unconscious, inanimate, insensate
    opposite: feeling, sensible, sensitive
    near: awake

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Insensitive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Insensitive:

affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, ironhearted, merciless, obdurate, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, stony, stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic, asleep, benumbed, dead, numb, numbed, torpid

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Insensitive

Words with the opposite meaning of Insensitive:

charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted, feeling, sensible

Related Words for Insensitive

boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking, grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out, oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle, abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered

Near Antonyms of Insensitive

benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind, clement, indulgent, lenient, mild, cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, tolerant, understanding, affectionate, fond, loving, awake

Word Forms of Insensitive

Derived words: insensitively (adverb), insensitiveness (noun), insensitivity (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Insensitive

First known use: 1834

Frequently Asked Questions about Insensitive

What does "Insensitive" mean?

"Insensitive" means lacking feeling or tact. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking feeling or tact. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Insensitive"?

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

What are different ways to say "Insensitive"?

There are 100 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Insensitive". Common alternatives include affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard, hard-boiled, hard-hearted and heartless.

What is the opposite of "Insensitive"?

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

How do you use "Insensitive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Insensitive" in a sentence: "an insensitive remark about his deceased wife that was incredibly rude"; "fingers rendered insensitive by the cold".

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

"Insensitive" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Insensitive"?

"Insensitive" is pronounced /(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv/ and divided into syllables as in·sen·si·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Insensitive"?

First known use: 1834.