hypersensitive
Americanadjective
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excessively sensitive.
to be hypersensitive to criticism.
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allergic to a substance to which persons do not normally react.
adjective
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having unduly vulnerable feelings
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abnormally sensitive to an allergen, a drug, or other agent
Other Word Forms
- hypersensitiveness noun
- hypersensitivity noun
Etymology
Origin of hypersensitive
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.
"The Gardener’s Cat" features Louis, a hypersensitive gardener devastated by the impending loss of his kitten, which has a tumour.
From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026
A post-mortem examination found Hannah died after suffering from a hypersensitive anaphylactic reaction triggered by an ingredient in her hot chocolate that caused an allergic response.
From BBC • Aug. 16, 2024
Research has shown that lonely people are hypersensitive to negative social words, such as “disliked” or “rejected,” and to faces expressing negative emotions.
From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024
“I do find it strange since I’m hypersensitive to how others are feeling at any given moment in addition to how I’m feeling at any given moment,” Corazon said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024
She seems hypersensitive to my reaction, and I’m guessing the conversation usually gets shut down long before this point.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
