insensitive

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​tive (ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv 

1

a

: lacking feeling or tact

so insensitive as to laugh at someone in pain

b

: not responsive or susceptible

insensitive to the demands of the public

2

: not physically or chemically sensitive

insensitively adverb

insensitiveness noun

insensitivity

(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• affectless
• callous
• case-hardened
• cold-blooded
• compassionless
• desensitized
• hard
• hard-boiled
• hard-hearted
• heartless
• indurate
• inhuman
• inhumane
• insensate
• ironhearted
• merciless
• obdurate
• pachydermatous
• pitiless
• remorseless
• ruthless
• slash-and-burn
• soulless
• stony
• stoney
• stonyhearted
• take-no-prisoners
• thick-skinned
• uncharitable
• unfeeling
• unmerciful
• unsparing
• unsympathetic

Examples of insensitive in a Sentence

He's just a rude, insensitive jerk.

It was insensitive of her to say that.

Recent Examples on the Web

In an Instagram video uploaded Monday, Jan. 20, the All My Children actor, 55, shared a heartfelt message, asking others to have compassion when weighing in on conversations that could come off as insensitive to the individuals affected by the wildfires. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

In her confessional Phaedra seems to believe that the pressure from Dr. Jackie to make the Med Gala a huge success stems from the heat Jackie took last year after making some insensitive comments about Black women patients being more dramatic. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 13 Jan. 2025

The remark underscores the importance of careful diplomacy and respect for sovereignty, especially in Latin America, where these insensitive statements strike a raw nerve. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

The 2012 campaign was marked by an early effort by Democrats to tar Mr. Romney as an insensitive, rapacious businessman willing to send jobs overseas. —Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

insensitive

adjective

in·​sen·​si·​tive (ˈ)in-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv 

-ˈsen(t)-stiv

: not sensitive

especially : lacking feeling

insensitively adverb

insensitivity

(ˌ)in-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

noun