1
: having a thick skin : pachydermatous
2
b
: impervious to criticism
became thick-skinned about his own work

Examples of thick-skinned in a Sentence

was so thick-skinned that she was clueless about the fact that the joke had hurt her friend's feelings
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The formidable thick-skinned, long-furred beast occupied the mammoth steppe, a cold-dry grassland biome that existed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2024 Its small, thick-skinned berries make wine with strong tannins and high acidity, two components that aide in Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to age. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thick-skinned was circa 1545

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Cite this Entry

“Thick-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thick-skinned. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

thick-skinned

adjective
-ˈskind
1
: having a thick skin
2
: not easily bothered by criticism or insult

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