insensitive

in·sen·si·tive

adjective \(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv\

: showing that you do not know or care about the feelings of other people

: not responding to or caring about problems, changes, or needs

: not greatly affected by something

Full Definition of INSENSITIVE

1

a :  not responsive or susceptible <insensitive to the demands of the public>

b :  lacking feeling or tact <so insensitive as to laugh at someone in pain>

2

:  not physically or chemically sensitive

— in·sen·si·tive·ly adverb

— in·sen·si·tive·ness noun

— in·sen·si·tiv·i·ty \(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

Examples of INSENSITIVE

1. He's just a rude, insensitive jerk.
2. It was insensitive of her to say that.

First Known Use of INSENSITIVE

1834

Related to INSENSITIVE

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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

Related Words

boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking; grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-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

Near Antonyms

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