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
This is a blatant attempt to save money in the most callous way possible — denying care to those who need it most.
—
Bhavya Ancha, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
So who is to blame for this callous disregard of patient’s and her family’s grief?
—Brea Baker, Refinery29, 22 May 2025
The Manchester-by-the-Sea health board has thumbed its nose at voters with callous indifference.
—Peter Brennan, Boston Herald, 26 May 2025
Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, your votes in the coming days will decide whether Florida chooses compassion and common sense — or callous disregard.
—Joseph MacBeth, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Bhavya Ancha, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
So who is to blame for this callous disregard of patient’s and her family’s grief?
—Brea Baker, Refinery29, 22 May 2025
The Manchester-by-the-Sea health board has thumbed its nose at voters with callous indifference.
—Peter Brennan, Boston Herald, 26 May 2025
Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, your votes in the coming days will decide whether Florida chooses compassion and common sense — or callous disregard.
—Joseph MacBeth, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for callous
Adjective
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As a member of a crew that robs banks, Mr. Blonde is the most ruthless.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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As they’re hunted by a ruthless drug gang led by the menacing Power (Aidan Gillen), their fight for survival becomes a journey of redemption.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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While Charlie Brown played things safe, Snoopy lived an exuberant life in his imagination, casting himself as a frustrated novelist, gleeful dancer, merciless attorney and even a prolific flying ace in a World War I Sopwith Camel.—
Chris Carra,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
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Players have openly voiced their struggles with its deep rough, lightning-fast greens, and merciless bunkers.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Callous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callous. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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