Insensitive
/ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsShowing or feeling no sympathy or concern for others.
/ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
Lacking awareness or consideration of others' feelings.
It was insensitive of him to make fun of her disability.
💡 Simply: Imagine you tell a friend some sad news, and they start joking around. That's being insensitive – not caring about how the person feels.
👶 For kids: When you say or do something that makes someone's feelings get hurt.
More Examples
The company's insensitive advertising campaign caused a public backlash.
She was criticized for making insensitive comments about the victims of the disaster.
How It's Used
"His insensitive remarks about her appearance caused her to cry."
"Therapists must be careful not to be insensitive to their patients' trauma."
Not physically responsive to a stimulus.
/ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
Not readily affected by something; not susceptible.
The material is insensitive to strong chemicals.
💡 Simply: Imagine a door that doesn't react when you knock. That's like something being insensitive – it's not affected or changed.
👶 For kids: When something can't feel anything, like a robot that can't feel pain.
More Examples
The test results showed that the tumor was insensitive to chemotherapy.
His skin was insensitive to the cold.
How It's Used
"The patient's nerves were insensitive to pain after the surgery."
"The equipment is insensitive to temperature fluctuations."
Idioms & expressions
insensitive to
Lacking awareness or appreciation of something.
"The government seemed insensitive to the needs of the homeless."
From *in-* (not) + *sensitive* (capable of perceiving). Sensitive itself comes from the Latin word *sensitivus*, meaning 'perceiving, having sensation'.
The word 'insensitive' has been used since the 17th century, originally to describe something not susceptible to physical sensation, and later expanding to describe emotional indifference.
Memory tip
Think of someone who doesn't *sense* or *feel* the emotions of others.