insensitive

[in-sen-si-tiv]

adjective

1. deficient in human sensibility, acuteness of feeling, or consideration; unfeeling; callous.

   an insensitive person.

2. not physically sensitive.

   insensitive skin.

3. not affected by physical or chemical agencies or influences.

   insensitive to light.

4. not readily responsive or aware.

   insensitive to the needs of the peasants.

insensitive

/ ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv /

adjective

1. lacking sensitivity; unfeeling

2. lacking physical sensation

3. not sensitive (to) or affected (by)

   insensitive to radiation

Other Word Forms

• insensitiveness noun
• insensitivity noun
• insensitively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insensitive¹

First recorded in 1600–10; in- ³ + sensitive

Example Sentences

In interviews and emails with The Times, parents said administrators called some of the wording in the scripts and depictions of characters culturally insensitive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Disney, which owns the US broadcast network that airs Jimmy Kimmel Live, said on Monday that it suspended the show because it "felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive".

Read more on BBC

“It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Kimmel's removal came after Nexstar Media, one of America's largest TV station owners, said it would not air Kimmel's show "for the foreseeable future" because his remarks had been "offensive and insensitive".

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Nexstar called his remarks about Kirk "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse".

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Related Words

• crass 
• heartless 
• uncaring www.thesaurus.com
• unkind 
• unresponsive