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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insensitive
While some Met Gala attendees came under fire for what were perceived to be historically insensitive fashion choices and others were targeted for wearing lackluster outfits, rap star Doechii was met with mean girl accusations.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2025
Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
For example, while one team member might feel valued by direct and candid communication, another may interpret the same approach as brusque or insensitive, instead needing more consideration or attention.
—Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Macri used to see Bergoglio as an ally, but, as Pope, Francis criticized the President’s policies as insensitive to the most vulnerable, and received him in the Vatican only twice, the first time for just twenty minutes.
—Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2025
Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
For example, while one team member might feel valued by direct and candid communication, another may interpret the same approach as brusque or insensitive, instead needing more consideration or attention.
—Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Macri used to see Bergoglio as an ally, but, as Pope, Francis criticized the President’s policies as insensitive to the most vulnerable, and received him in the Vatican only twice, the first time for just twenty minutes.
—Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensitive
Adjective
-
Wes Anderson is talking about a surreal moment that occurs early in his latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, in which the protagonist, the ruthless international tycoon Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), experiences a vision of the afterlife.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 May 2025
-
Ralph Fiennes will play the ruthless Panem dictator in director Francis Lawrence‘s forthcoming film in the franchise, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pay no heed to the aches in your body, the growing fear that your numb fingers and toes may never be able to feel sensations again: look up and thank the man with your gaze.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
-
An example is lidocaine, used to numb pain during medical procedures.—
Rebecca Robbins,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Heat’s roller-coaster season has come to a merciless end.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
This time, his assignment takes him to Serbia, as he is tasked with assassinating the merciless General Mile Valstoria (Peter Linka).—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
The film has much to say about the callous nature of Iran in just throwing anyone in jail with no viable reason.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
-
Bobby is clearly in crisis and their disregard not only comes across as callous but strongly suggests a troubling home life.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
Tornadoes in the Southeastern U.S. are more likely to strike overnight, when people are asleep and cannot quickly protect themselves, which makes these events dramatically more dangerous.—
Daniel Chavas,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
-
The vote was that close in part because Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican who would've voted to support it, was asleep at the time, House Speaker Mike Johnson said.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
While there may be unhealthy behaviors from both partners involved in an abusive relationship, one person tends to have more control than the other.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
Her first husband was physically and emotionally abusive.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Tabo turns, in his mother’s eyes, into a cold and unfeeling stone.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
So much modern football is mechanical and unfeeling; Joao Felix is loose and breezy.—
Jack Lang,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Insensitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insensitive. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share