Sensitive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈsen(t)-sə-tiv/ sen·si·tive

Meaning & Definition of Sensitive

Sensitive (adjective)

  1. sensory
  2. receptive to sense impressions
  3. capable of being stimulated or excited by external agents (such as light, gravity, or contact)

Sensitive (noun)

  1. a person having occult or psychical abilities
  2. a sensitive person

Sensitive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. able to sense slight impressions or differences

    "a scale that is sensitive to the smallest change in weight"

    similar: acute, delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sharp
    related: accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle, hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive
    near: bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading, dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb, imprecise, inaccurate

  2. being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm

    "she's very sensitive to the sun and will burn if she's outside for any amount of time"

    similar: endangered, exposed, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy
    related: likely, prone, uncovered, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unscreened, unsecured
    opposite: insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible
    near: covered, guarded, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, sheltered, shielded, warded

  3. easily injured without careful handling

    "the sensitive skin of a newborn mouse"

    similar: delicate, fragile, frail, tender
    related: breakable, brittle, crushable, eggshell, frangible, friable, feeble, flimsy, puny, slight, soft, tenuous, weak, nonhardy, perishable, resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding
    opposite: tough
    near: durable, firm, flinty, hard, hardy, resistant, robust, rugged, solid, sound, stiff, stout, strong, sturdy, substantial, infrangible, nonbreakable, unbreakable, hardened, inured, strengthened, tempered, toughened

  4. of or relating to physical sensation or the senses

    "sensitive data"

    similar: sensational, sensorial, sensory, sensuous
    related: afferent, receptive, sensate, sensual
    near: extrasensory, intuitional

  5. requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling

    "pointing out to the boss that she's wrong is always a sensitive task"

    similar: catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy (chiefly British), hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome, burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful
    near: easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic

Sensitive (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in medium, psychic

    similar: channel, channeler, medium, psychic, spiritist, spiritualist, clairvoyant, mentalist, mind reader, telepath

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sensitive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sensitive:

Chiefly British: dodgy
acute, delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sharp, endangered, exposed, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, fragile, frail, tender, sensational, sensorial, sensory, sensuous, catchy, difficult, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky, at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy, channel

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sensitive

Words with the opposite meaning of Sensitive:

insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible, tough

Related Words for Sensitive

accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle, hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive, likely, prone, uncovered, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unscreened, unsecured, breakable, brittle, crushable, eggshell, frangible, friable, feeble, flimsy

Near Antonyms of Sensitive

bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading, dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb, imprecise, inaccurate, covered, guarded, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, sheltered, shielded, warded, durable, firm, flinty, hard, hardy, resistant, robust, rugged

Word Forms of Sensitive

Derived words: sensitively (adverb), sensitiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Sensitive

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, probably alteration of sensativus, from sensatus sensate

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Sensitive

Words & Phrases Containing Sensitive

sensitive compartmented information facility, sensitive plant, sensitive soul, case-sensitive

Frequently Asked Questions about Sensitive

What does "Sensitive" mean?

"Sensitive" means sensory. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: sensory. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sensitive"?

Other words for "Sensitive" include acute, delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sharp and endangered. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sensitive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sensitive"?

There are 121 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sensitive". Common alternatives include acute, delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sharp, endangered, exposed and liable.

What is the opposite of "Sensitive"?

Antonyms of "Sensitive" include insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible and tough. Near antonyms include bad, deadened, dimmed and dull.

How do you use "Sensitive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sensitive" in a sentence: "a scale that is sensitive to the smallest change in weight"; "she's very sensitive to the sun and will burn if she's outside for any amount of time"; "the sensitive skin of a newborn mouse".

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

"Sensitive" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As a B2-level word, "Sensitive" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Sensitive"?

"Sensitive" is pronounced /ˈsen(t)-sə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as sen·si·tive.