Synonyms of callous

callous

adjective

ˈka-ləs 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

the callous comment "It's just a fish," when the boy's pet died, made him cry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• merciless
• heartless
• stony
• hard
• abusive
• insensitive
• cruel
• pitiless
• unfeeling
• hateful
• oppressive
• compassionless
• harsh
• malicious
• inhumane
• brutal
• inhuman
• hard-hearted
• remorseless
• unsympathetic
• uncharitable
• soulless
• vicious
• insensate
• unmerciful
• tough
• obdurate
• cold-blooded
• stern
• unsparing
• desensitized
• indurate
• thick-skinned
• grim
• affectless
• slash-and-burn
• stoney
• case-hardened
• uncaring
• take-no-prisoners
• thoughtless
• hard-boiled
• severe
• savage
• pachydermatous
• inconsiderate
• unthinking
• mean
• boorish
• unloving
• rough
• spiteful
• ironhearted
• unfriendly
• heedless
• stonyhearted
• ungentle
• malevolent
• disagreeable
• virulent
• cold
• surly
• heavy-handed
• brutish
• barbarous
• bestial
• acrimonious
• rough-and-tumble
• ill-natured
• ill-tempered
• jackbooted
• rancorous
• ironfisted
• hard-bitten
• sledgehammer
• evil-minded
• ironhanded
• austere
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• frosty
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• warm
• sensitive
• charitable
• compassionate
• merciful
• humane
• gentle
• kindly
• benevolent
• kind
• tender
• mild
• lenient
• indulgent
• kindhearted
• softhearted
• friendly
• gracious
• tenderhearted
• warmhearted
• cordial
• benignant
• tolerant
• loving
• affectionate
• good-natured
• understanding
• fond
• clement
• good-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of callous

Meanwhile, Odell and his potential heirs, callous Belinda (Téa Leoni) and sleazeball Shepard (scene-stealer Will Poulter), take the discovery of a new species to unethical extremes. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025

How callous can Rick really be? —Ayan Artan, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025

While the case against her unfolded as an avaricious media circus that portrayed Casey as a callous Orlando party girl, the actual evidence against her makes a strong argument that, in Casey Anthony’s case, the media got it right. —Aja Romano, Vox, 4 Mar. 2025

The Gordons have been left deeply screwed up by their deceased father — not just callous and clueless like all the ultra-rich, but unable to maintain healthy relationships with either partners or one another. —Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025

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