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
The jacket touched off a firestorm of questions about whether Melania Trump, an immigrant herself, was being insensitive, or even callous, to the plight of children separated from their parents while trying to cross the U.S. border.
—
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
Fans quickly reacted to 50 Cent's post, with some calling it insensitive.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
These wishes feel to me very thoughtless and insensitive.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Family patriarch and then-star Phil Robertson (who had founded the Duck Commander brand) made homophobic and racially insensitive comments in a January 2014 GQ magazine interview, earning him a brief suspension by A&E (although the show wasn’t in production at the time).
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
Fans quickly reacted to 50 Cent's post, with some calling it insensitive.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
These wishes feel to me very thoughtless and insensitive.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Family patriarch and then-star Phil Robertson (who had founded the Duck Commander brand) made homophobic and racially insensitive comments in a January 2014 GQ magazine interview, earning him a brief suspension by A&E (although the show wasn’t in production at the time).
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insensitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insensitive
Adjective
-
Yet in 2016-17, free from midweek continental trips, Conte’s side stormed to the title with 93 points, spearheaded by a ruthless Diego Costa.—
Conor O'Neill,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Rendezvous Views The Island has been infused with an abundance of Bars, and now every opportunist is out to hit the jackpot including the ruthless crime kingpin Fletcher Kane.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Dedra Simpson isn’t numb to the New Year’s Day tragedy.—
Ira Porter,
The Christian Science Monitor,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The Columbia Moisture-control Crew Socks are perfect for keeping your toes warm and dry during outdoor adventures without worrying about numb toes.—
Michelle Polizzi,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The most intriguing of the Japanese cast is Kasamatsu (a principal character on Max’s Tokyo Vice) as Major Nakamura, a thoughtful man who seems resistant to Colonel Kota’s instruction to be more merciless.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The temptation is too much for a merciless monarch to resist and she's briefed on the details of the team's counter-terrorism assignment.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Any advice would be appreciated. — Not the Bestie Dear Bestie: At the risk of sounding callous, this is not your problem.—
R. Eric Thomas,
The Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Any advice would be appreciated. – Not the Bestie Dear Bestie: At the risk of sounding callous, this is not your problem.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Jeong was asleep with his three children at the time of the fire.—
Graeme Taskerud,
The Denver Post,
13 Feb. 2025
-
In the image shared on Instagram, taken by mom Sofia, the little royal appears to be asleep on her side under a blanket while wearing a white and pink outfit.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Childhood’s a hugely impressionable time, even when you’re not being brought on the set of Psycho II to re-create the abusive early years of a murderous character played as an adult by your own father.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
-
His character is the family patriarch and an abusive alcoholic.—
Michael Paulson,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
So much modern football is mechanical and unfeeling; Joao Felix is loose and breezy.—
Jack Lang,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Human failings amidst an unfeeling snowpocalypse make for some engaging scenes.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
22 Dec. 2024
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 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share