callous

[kal-uhs]

adjective

1. made hard; hardened.

   Synonyms: hard
   Antonyms: soft

2. insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic.

   They have a callous attitude toward the sufferings of others.

   Synonyms: obtuse, insensible
   Antonyms: sensitive

3. having a callus; indurated, as parts of the skin exposed to friction.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become hard or callous.

callous

/ ˈkæləs /

adjective

1. unfeeling; insensitive

2. (of skin) hardened and thickened

verb

1. pathol to make or become callous

Other Word Forms

• callously adverb
• callousness noun
• uncallous adjective
• uncallously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of callous¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Latin callōsus “hard-skinned, tough,” equivalent to call(um) “tough skin, any hard substance” + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of callous¹

C16: from Latin callōsus; see _callus

Synonym Study

See hard.

Related Words

• apathetic 
• careless 
• cold-blooded 
• heartless 
• indifferent 
• insensitive 
• uncaring www.thesaurus.com
• unsympathetic