sensitive

1 of 2

adjective

sen·si·tive ˈsen(t)-sə-tiv

ˈsen(t)s-təv

Synonyms of sensitive next

: sensory sense 2

: receptive to sense impressions

: capable of being stimulated or excited by external agents (such as light, gravity, or contact)

sensitive cells

: highly responsive or susceptible: such as

a(1)

: easily hurt or damaged

especially : easily hurt emotionally

(2)

: delicately aware of the attitudes and feelings of others

: excessively or abnormally susceptible : hypersensitive

sensitive to egg protein

: readily fluctuating in price or demand

sensitive commodities

: capable of indicating minute differences : delicate

sensitive scales

: readily affected or changed by various agents (such as light or mechanical shock)

a photographic emulsion sensitive to red light

: highly radiosensitive

: concerned with highly classified government information or involving discretionary authority over important policy matters

sensitive documents

: calling for tact, care, or caution in treatment : touchy

a sensitive issue like race relations

: having or showing concern for a specified matter

—usually used in combination

a price-sensitive customerenvironmentally sensitive policies

sensitively adverb

sensitiveness noun

sensitive

2 of 2

noun

: a person having occult or psychical abilities

: a sensitive person

Choose the Right Synonym for sensitive

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse.

liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

Example Sentences

Adjective He acts like a tough guy, but he's really very sensitive to criticism. I found him to be a sensitive and caring person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Voight added that Bernard also violated HIPAA, an act that prohibits medical professionals from disclosing a patient’s sensitive health information without their consent or knowledge. —

Aria Bendix, NBC News, 25 May 2023 The star was reportedly sensitive about his false front teeth. —

Justin Ray, Robb Report, 24 May 2023 The film takes place over a single day in 2017, when FBI agents confront Reality at her home to ask her about mishandling sensitive information. —

Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 18 May 2023 Since the skin is in such a sensitive state when using retinol, wearing your fave UV ray-blocking SPF is a must. —

Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 18 May 2023 People should be concerned about health apps sharing potentially sensitive data because that information could fuel predatory health marketing or discrimination, Chester said. —

Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 17 May 2023 While investigating that incident, Horowitz discovered that Rollins secretly disclosed sensitive information to the Boston Herald about a potential department investigation of interim Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. —

Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 However, for those with sensitive skin, finding the right insect repellent is trial and error. —

Erica Reagle, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023 The entorhinal cortex is particularly sensitive to aging and to Alzheimer’s. —

Brenda Goodman, CNN, 15 May 2023

Noun

Carnival rides will have minimal lights and sound to accommodate guests with sensory sensitives and challenges. —

Kennedy Sessions, Chron, 23 Feb. 2023 The helmets are 3-D printed, the gloves are touch-screen sensitive, and the each of the two custom suits is a single piece. —

Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, 14 July 2021 Observers say this intense desire to avoid error may come from an ingrained cultural tendency toward mockery in social interactions, even in classroom settings, which makes the French sensitive to ridicule. —

Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2023 This is the kind of sandwich that inspires the sensitive to feel guilty and the angry to shame others over their choices. —

Tim Carman, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2023 Not a huge issue for everyone and caffeine is one of the best things to supplement to improve focus, but could be off-putting if your sensitive to caffeine. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022 Many of the sectors that have seen price relief aren't interest-rate sensitive. —

Quartz, 19 Dec. 2022 But there may be genuine differences which are not so temporally or cultural sensitive. —

Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2011 According to John Burns Real Estate Consulting, those markets are hyper mortgage rate sensitive. —

Bylance Lambert, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sensitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.