Etymology

From in- +‎ sensitiveCategory:English terms prefixed with in-#SENSITIVE.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/Category:English 4-syllable words#INSENSITIVECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#INSENSITIVE

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#INSENSITIVE

Adjective

insensitive (comparative more insensitive, superlative most insensitive)Category:English lemmas#INSENSITIVECategory:English adjectives#INSENSITIVECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#INSENSITIVECategory:Pages with entries#INSENSITIVECategory:Pages with 1 entry#INSENSITIVE

1. Expressing or feeling little or no concern, care, compassion, or consideration for the feelings, emotions, sentiments, or concerns of other people; inconsiderate or incompassionate.

   Synonyms: ruthless, uncompassionate, unsensitive

   Antonyms: compassionate, ruthful, sensitive

2. Not expressing normal physical feeling.

   Synonyms: anesthetic, insensate, insensible, unsensitive

   Antonyms: sensate, sensitive

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC:

     It is something like the way dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm by contact.

     Category:English terms with quotations#INSENSITIVE

3. Not expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic.

   Synonyms: harsh, rude, unsensitive; see also Thesaurus:impolite, Thesaurus:stern

   Antonyms: sensitive, tactful, warm

   • 1895, Grant Allen, The British Barbarians

     Somehow, when Bertram Ingledew let it once be felt he did not wish to be questioned on any particular point, even women managed to restrain their curiosity: and he would have been either a very bold or a very insensitive man who would have ventured to continue questioning him any further.

   • 1994, Jann Arden, "Insensitive" (song)

     Oh I really should have known by the time you drove me home, / By the vagueness in your eyes, your casual good-byes, / By the chill in your embrace and the expression on your face, / That told me you might have some advice to give / On how to be insensitive.