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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of callous

Despite the warmth of a beach vacation, getting invited to join a group that’s been so callous to you would feel like awfully cold comfort. —R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024

But what marks the shoot with an indelible stain of guilt is her callous indifference toward the well-being of the cast and crew, in her reckless quest to make the film as real as possible. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024

Adult human beings—even the callous, tone-deaf, emotionally immature ones—demonstrate an understanding of death that is remarkable in its sophistication. —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Prosecutors painted a picture of callous enablement that eventually ended in Perry’s tragic demise. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024

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