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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Recent Examples of callous
Miss Manners has noticed that forms for responding to social invitations have gotten harsher and harsher, as prospective guests have gotten increasingly more callous.
—
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Markets are callous and only react meaningfully when these events impact economic fundamentals or lead to a change in policy.
—Chloe Taylor,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
In addition to callous disregard for former Marylanders’ livelihoods and well-being, by not maintaining the voter rolls, the State Board of Elections disrespects every single Marylander who has a right to vote.
—Nicolee Ambrose, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
The valuation gods declared a winner in the quest to be America’s premier New York radio station, the callous observer might say.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Markets are callous and only react meaningfully when these events impact economic fundamentals or lead to a change in policy.
—Chloe Taylor,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
In addition to callous disregard for former Marylanders’ livelihoods and well-being, by not maintaining the voter rolls, the State Board of Elections disrespects every single Marylander who has a right to vote.
—Nicolee Ambrose, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
The valuation gods declared a winner in the quest to be America’s premier New York radio station, the callous observer might say.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for callous
Adjective
-
There’s also just one overwhelming evil force in this play — the Nazis — whereas Dumas had his musketeers fighting not just ruthless government officials but royalty, religious leaders and nobles.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
With a lesser interpreter in the role, Eva might have read more reductively as just a ruthless bureaucratic leader.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In between, the Ball Arena patrons were merciless in their jeering of the officials.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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Against some audiences’ will, Ari Aster’s merciless black comedy drags us back to May 2020 when tempers, temperatures and misinformation were heating up across America.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With a 15 percent slope and soils consisting of shattered rock and very stony loam with a small percentage of clay, the soil is low in organic matter and drains extremely well.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The sculptor, David Adickes, was an Army veteran who'd wanted his stony visages to gleam.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Callous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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