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
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
Others, however, slammed those reactions as insensitive, saying that a killing isn't justified and that acts of violence should be denounced.
—
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Yet Schrader seems insensitive to the sorrow and sagacity that John Huston made palpable in his adaptation of Under the Volcano by another Canadian author, Malcolm Lowery.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Dec. 2024
The bill drew sharp criticism from Democrats on the committee, who argued that parents should have the opportunity to opt their children out of the training, and that the training could be insensitive to students who have had past or familial experiences with gun violence.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
The 24-year-old actress — who plays Nessarose, sister to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, in the box-office hit movie musical — condemned the insensitive and hateful remarks that have been directed toward her character in a new video shared a week after Wicked hit theaters on Nov. 22.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insensitive 
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.
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Yet Schrader seems insensitive to the sorrow and sagacity that John Huston made palpable in his adaptation of Under the Volcano by another Canadian author, Malcolm Lowery.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Dec. 2024
The bill drew sharp criticism from Democrats on the committee, who argued that parents should have the opportunity to opt their children out of the training, and that the training could be insensitive to students who have had past or familial experiences with gun violence.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
The 24-year-old actress — who plays Nessarose, sister to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, in the box-office hit movie musical — condemned the insensitive and hateful remarks that have been directed toward her character in a new video shared a week after Wicked hit theaters on Nov. 22.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insensitive
Dictionary Entries Near insensitive
Cite this Entry
“Insensitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insensitive. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insensitive
adjective
in·sen·si·tive
(ˈ)in-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv
-ˈsen(t)-stiv
: not sensitive
especially
: lacking feeling
insensitively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share