callous
[ kal-uhs ]
/ ˈkæl əs /
adjective
made hard; hardened.
insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic: They have a callous attitude toward the sufferings of others.
having a callus; indurated, as parts of the skin exposed to friction.
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become hard or callous.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
callosal gyrus, callose, callosity, callot, callot, jacques, callous, calloused, callously, callow, calloway, calloway, cab
Origin of callous
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin callōsus hard-skinned, tough, equivalent to call(um) tough skin, any hard substance + -ōsus -ous
SYNONYMS FOR callous
1 hard.
Related forms
Can be confusedcallous callus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for callousness
British Dictionary definitions for callousness
callous
/ (ˈkæləs) /
adjective
unfeeling; insensitive
(of skin) hardened and thickened
verb
pathol to make or become callous
Derived Formscallously, adverbcallousness, noun
Word Origin for callous
C16: from Latin callōsus; see callus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for callousness
callous
[ kăl′əs ]
adj.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a callus or callosity.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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