1
as in callousness
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2
as in insensitiveness
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Recent Examples of insensitivity
Hicks, meanwhile, is facing allegations from Democratic candidates of bullying, elitism and racial insensitivity.
—
ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
One flashpoint came after comments related to standardized testing sparked accusations of racial insensitivity.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2026
After a two-hour tale of comical deception, betrayal, emotional cruelty, insensitivity and obliviousness, the audience is expected to swallow a message of caring and community.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
This shocking ignorance and insensitivity by Ocasio-Cortez should rule her out of any potential presidential bid or other high office.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
My disappointment in Vigil came down to the waste of a perfect setup for exhibiting the worldly redemption of art—that is, its power to redeem us from insensitivity and self-satisfaction.
—Julius Taranto, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Your son’s insensitivity to your feelings is appalling.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
In the email, Marrero accused Youngquist of wanting his job, creating a toxic work environment, undermining DPS leaders, and showing racial insensitivity toward staff.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
One flashpoint came after comments related to standardized testing sparked accusations of racial insensitivity.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2026
After a two-hour tale of comical deception, betrayal, emotional cruelty, insensitivity and obliviousness, the audience is expected to swallow a message of caring and community.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
This shocking ignorance and insensitivity by Ocasio-Cortez should rule her out of any potential presidential bid or other high office.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
My disappointment in Vigil came down to the waste of a perfect setup for exhibiting the worldly redemption of art—that is, its power to redeem us from insensitivity and self-satisfaction.
—Julius Taranto, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Your son’s insensitivity to your feelings is appalling.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
In the email, Marrero accused Youngquist of wanting his job, creating a toxic work environment, undermining DPS leaders, and showing racial insensitivity toward staff.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensitivity
Noun
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There’s another nice juxtaposition in this episode, this time highlighting Robby’s callousness.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
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The killing in the woods of Knoxville demonstrated a brutality and callousness rarely seen in a woman, let alone one so young.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These young graduates start out naive about the heartlessness of the corporate world and harbor illusory hopes for success in unforgiving professions.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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The lives of the two children in the story, aged fourteen and four, are portrayed as being as fleeting as the fireflies, and the story is an unsentimental and unflinching account with moments of both tenderness and heartlessness.—
Ginny Tapley Takemori
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its furnishings were anything but describable, having been conceived, manufactured, shipped, and sold in various states of thoughtlessness, greed, and indifference.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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But the movie not wanting to open that particular can of worms isn’t surprising — this is a film that thrives on bloodshed and thoughtlessness.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The song has said everything that Ines can’t bring herself to, and her coldness chips away in the days and weeks that follow.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Some of it has to do with the coldness of the skin.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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China has gained, not suffered, from this obduracy.—
JONATHAN A. CZIN,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Nov. 2025
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Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.—
John Button,
STAT,
16 Dec. 2023
Noun
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Experts recommend descaling every one to three months, depending on water hardness, and suggest preventative measures like occasional hot cycles, using the correct detergent amount, and regular wiping of machine parts.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 Mar. 2026
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The Liquefy choice offers a dedicated interface with control over brush size, hardness, opacity, ramp type (Gaussian, Linear, and several more), and speed.—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Appreciative of these qualities, humans have domesticated Cucumis sativus and traded it throughout the world, with the fruit’s coolness becoming another, if metaphorical, tendril.—
Andrés Muedano,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Mar. 2026
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Even Whoop is trying to increase the coolness factor of wearable tech, announcing a new creative partnership with acclaimed designer Samuel Ross earlier this year.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insensitivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insensitivity. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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