1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
an insensitive remark about his deceased wife that was incredibly rude
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
fingers rendered insensitive by the cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insensitive
Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Most importantly, renewing the Urban Limit Line would send a signal to county and city leaders throughout Contra Costa that voters want smart growth, not environmentally insensitive sprawl.
—East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
The remark quickly drew criticism, with many calling it insensitive given the circumstances.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Providers have no reason to reduce costs for price-insensitive customers.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Most importantly, renewing the Urban Limit Line would send a signal to county and city leaders throughout Contra Costa that voters want smart growth, not environmentally insensitive sprawl.
—East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
The remark quickly drew criticism, with many calling it insensitive given the circumstances.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Providers have no reason to reduce costs for price-insensitive customers.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensitive
Adjective
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When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
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Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The steering, however, is numb and the handling is competent but uninspiring.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 May 2026
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Wayans also experienced foot pain, numb toes, delirium and blurry vision.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Ron White, Joe DeRosa, and Tony’s number one favorite comic, Tony Hinchcliffe (played by Adam Ray), showed the crowd exactly what effortless and absolutely merciless veteran comedy looks like.—
Malina Saval,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Development in the Dotte 🪠 Fish or human feces often wash up in KCK homes during those merciless spring rains.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When Bill’s older brother Henry (Barry Ward) finds the pianist in numbed solitude in his dingy apartment, Bill has canceled all his upcoming gigs, saying Scotty cannot be replaced.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Ingber also notes the numbed response to these strikes from much of the American public, something that, in part, may come from the routine nature of these drone strikes as something that the nation has become desensitized to dropping bombs on enemies.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These conditions often yield mezcals with a savory backbone and a dry, stony finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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In a vast stony tract of desert a three-hour drive south of Cairo, tucked between jagged black mountains and the glittering Gulf of Suez, a group of Chinese engineers is quietly rewiring Egypt’s energy strategy.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the underlying mechanism is well-established — a landmark 1999 study in Nature found foot vasodilation was the single strongest physiological predictor of how quickly someone falls asleep.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
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Guests are encouraged to fall asleep during the session — making rest itself the treatment.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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As Tiffany, Brittany Bradford can turn on a dime from hilarious (in her college open mic-night debut) to callous and cold.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Drenched in sweat from the heat, Pickford would burn through work gloves and callous his hands.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One says, God can always see you with his unfeeling precision.—
Sandra Lim,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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As the actor tells Glamour, most were written according to stereotypes and portrayed as cold, unfeeling, aggressive, or robotic.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insensitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insensitive. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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