insensible

American  

[in-sen-suh-buhl] / ɪnˈsɛn sə bəl /

adjective

1. incapable of feeling or perceiving; deprived of sensation; unconscious, as a person after a violent blow.

2. without or not subject to a particular feeling or sensation.

   insensible to shame; insensible to the cold.

3. unaware; unconscious; inappreciative.

   We are not insensible of your kindness.

4. not perceptible by the senses; imperceptible.

   insensible transitions.

5. unresponsive in feeling.

   Synonyms:

   torpid, emotionless, passionless, dull, cool, indifferent, unfeeling, apathetic

6. not susceptible of emotion or passion; void of any feeling.

   Synonyms:

   cool, indifferent, unfeeling, apathetic, torpid, emotionless, passionless, dull

7. not endowed with feeling or sensation, as matter; inanimate.

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insensible British  

/ ɪnˈsɛnsəbəl /

adjective

1. lacking sensation or consciousness

2. unaware (of) or indifferent (to)

   insensible to suffering

3. thoughtless or callous

4. a less common word for imperceptible

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Synonym Usage

See indifference.

Other Word Forms

• insensibility
  noun
• insensibly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of insensible

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word insēnsibilis. See in- ³, sensible

Explanation

The adjective insensible is used to describe someone who is unconscious. If you keep your bowling ball on the top shelf of the closet and it rolls out and conks you on the head, you will probably be rendered insensible. The adjective insensible describes a lack of emotional response or being indifferent. If your friend says that the roller coaster was so scary it nearly made him vomit and you shrug and say, "Eh, it was okay," he may think you are insensible to fear. A lack of physical sensation can also be described as insensible. If your nerve endings are not acute and you don't feel much pain, you are insensible to pain. This can be dangerous, though, because you might not notice if you get hurt skateboarding.

Example Sentences

Now that all hearts are glad, all faces bright, Our aged Sovereign sits, to the ebb and flow Of states and kingdoms, to their joy or woe, Insensible.

From The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Volume IV (of 8) by Wordsworth, William

"Insensible of the designs now forming by Philip."

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold

Insensible with pain and humiliation, I went to my room.

From The Bride of Dreams by Auw, Mellie von

Insensible now to the cold, to the wind moaning outside, to the snow whirling against the pane, he lived with phantoms.

From The Day of the Beast by Grey, Zane

Oh, no—Walpole's verses express beautifully what one ought to feel on such occasions— ‘For never was the gentle breast Insensible to human woes; Feeling, though firm, it melts distress'd For weaknesses it never knows.’

From St. Ronan's Well by Scott, Walter, Sir