desensitize
Americanverb (used with object)
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desensitizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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desensitized,
past participle, past
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desensitizing
present participle
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to lessen the sensitiveness of.
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to make indifferent, unaware, or the like, in feeling.
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Photography. to make less sensitive or wholly insensitive to light, as the emulsion on a film.
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Printing. to treat (the design on a lithographic plate) with an etch in order to increase the capacity to retain moisture, and to remove traces of grease.
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Chemistry. to reduce the sensitivity of (an explosive) to those stimuli capable of detonating it.
verb
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to render insensitive or less sensitive
the patient was desensitized to the allergen
to desensitize photographic film
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psychol to decrease the abnormal fear in (a person) of a situation or object, by exposing him to it either in reality or in his imagination
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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desensitizesimple
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desensitizessimple
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have desensitizedperfect
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has desensitizedperfect
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am desensitizingprogressive
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are desensitizingprogressive
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is desensitizingprogressive
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have been desensitizingperfect progressive
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has been desensitizingperfect progressive
Past
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desensitizedsimple
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had desensitizedperfect
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was desensitizingprogressive
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were desensitizingprogressive
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had been desensitizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of desensitize
Explanation
To desensitize is to make less sensitive, or less easily upset. Some people say that watching scary movies desensitizes kids to violence. A shot of novocaine desensitizes you to the pain of having a cavity drilled by your dentist, and lots of spicy food can desensitize you to more subtle flavors. In both cases, you become less perceptive, or less affected by a sensation or taste. Witnessing violence can likewise desensitize soldiers or war reporters. The word originally referred to photographic development, from de-, "do the opposite of," and sensitize, with its Latin root sentire, "feel or perceive."
Vocabulary lists containing desensitize
Common Senses: Sent, Sens ("Feel")
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This Week in Words: February 19 - 23, 2018
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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:
Constant warnings of collapse desensitize us to real dangers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
“One of the things that we teach them to do is to massage that over repeatedly throughout the day, to desensitize it,” April says.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2024
"If we can increase levels of GDF15 before someone becomes pregnant, that might desensitize them, similar to how we try to desensitize people to allergens who have severe allergies," says Fejzo.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2024
For young children and people who have to take many different allergy medications, immunotherapies in the form of shots and oral drops can help desensitize the immune system to allergens, treating symptoms at their root.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2024
Riding in the open air is better than not being in the open air at all, but it does not compare in its power to desensitize people with active exercise in the open air.
From Health Through Will Power by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh
“We hear stuff like this all the time. It just desensitizes you to there being an actual threat, knock on wood.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Fuchs hopes viewers also recognize the ways that fear desensitizes Derry townsfolk to the horrors in their midst.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025
“It desensitizes you to handcuffs, to steel, to concrete, to cold, to institutions,” said Roybal, now 38 and a physical therapist.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2023
In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 11, 2020
“Wikipedians are used to hunting trolls and fighting them. It desensitizes them.”
From Slate ● Dec. 11, 2014
Wehniainen speculated that a difficult job market may have left candidates desensitized to interview rituals and discouraged about their chances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
He explains how he believes Alcaraz’s tragic death likely came to be and how officers have become desensitized to issues afflicting America’s prisons.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026
Reactions to other recent reports have been muted as well, with investors seemingly desensitized to Nvidia’s big numbers.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026
Investors have become desensitized to risk as the 2008-09 financial crisis fades from memory, Block believes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2025
“You need to get desensitized to the hugging,” Aaron said.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Skylar King, who’s performing at the show, said she had a week of long conversations with her fellow performers on how to joke about climate change without desensitizing people to the seriousness of the topic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2024
Leprosy primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system, causing physical deformity and desensitizing one’s ability to feel pain on affected skin.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2024
Trainers begin by desensitizing the chimps to the sound, doling out bananas, Cheerios or other treats as it plays.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
It works by desensitizing the nerves in the skin that transmit an itch sensation.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
But this morning I noticed a real improvement when I went through the massage and desensitizing routine.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
