as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the callous comment "It's just a fish," when the boy's pet died, made him cry
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of callous
Putting Laguna Beach with north county teams in Century Conference was callous.
—
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
This cruel and callous Big Ugly Bill’s CTC tax relief actually excludes our poorest families who make less than $30,000.
—Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
The wealthy, somewhat callous protagonist (Washington here, Toshiro Mifune back in ‘63) initially balks at paying the ransom money and wiping out his business to save his friend’s son’s life.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
These selfish, harmful and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
This cruel and callous Big Ugly Bill’s CTC tax relief actually excludes our poorest families who make less than $30,000.
—Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
The wealthy, somewhat callous protagonist (Washington here, Toshiro Mifune back in ‘63) initially balks at paying the ransom money and wiping out his business to save his friend’s son’s life.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
These selfish, harmful and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for callous
Adjective
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With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom — drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic and utterly magical new Norse saga.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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The company is famous for its creative but ruthless approach to cost cutting.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The novel intertwines present-day events with painful memories of the lives of her parents, who tried to protect their love from war, jealousy, and the cruelty of the merciless Soviet government.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
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In the present day, Lockjaw reenters Bob and Willa’s lives with merciless force, deploying troops from his immigration taskforce on Baktan Cross, the sanctuary city where Bob and Willa have been laying low in the 16 years since Pat became Bob and baby Charlene, Willa, as the two went on the lam.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Callous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callous. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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