as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
having lived through the horrors of war, the soldiers had seemingly become desensitized to virtually all human suffering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desensitized
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 -
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
Adjective
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The documentary also shows people, especially during media interviews, being very insensitive to Candy’s issues, especially his struggles with obesity, and saying so to his face.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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This is just one more example of a government insensitive to the realities of people's health needs.—
Maria Shriver,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That’s the beauty of the league — every play matters and every play is hard to execute.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
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And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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President Biden singularly stands out in his callous enabling of the horrors inflicted on Gaza for more than a year.—
Shibley Telhami,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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One memorable moment comes early, when another call between Polly and her mother tilts into dread as the voice on the phone morphs into a more callous, sinister being.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Desensitized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desensitized. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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