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Synonyms

unfeeling

American  
[uhn-fee-ling] / ʌnˈfi lɪŋ /

adjective

  1. not feeling; devoid of feeling; insensible or insensate.

    Synonyms:
    numb
  2. unsympathetic; callous.

    an intelligent but unfeeling man.

    Synonyms:
    hardhearted
    Antonyms:
    sympathetic

unfeeling British  
/ ʌnˈfiːlɪŋ /

adjective

  1. without sympathy; callous

  2. without physical feeling or sensation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See hard.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of unfeeling

before 1000; Middle English; Old English unfelende. See un- 1, feel, -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When he dismisses a contagion that killed millions as a “global gob of spit,” Mr. Tesson seems unfeeling and out of touch.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 11, 2025

Brooks and Gordon could easily get away with making “Oh, Hi!” a reverse “Misery,” with Iris as the beleaguered, sympathetic party trapped in a bad dynamic made worse by her unfeeling companion.

From Salon Jul. 25, 2025

It’s what makes you a thinking, sentient being rather than an unfeeling mechanism.

From Scientific American Nov. 7, 2023

Noughties celebrity culture will be remembered for stars like Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty tackling troubles in the glare of publicity, while the tabloids and lad mags wielded unfeeling and voyeuristic power.

From BBC Sep. 18, 2023

He smiled, but his eyes stayed cold and unfeeling.

From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper

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