supersensitive

[ soo-per-sen-si-tiv ]

adjective

1. extremely or excessively sensitive; hypersensitive:

   a supersensitive smoke detector.

2. Electricity. of or relating to relays that operate on very small currents, below about 250 microamperes.
3. hypersensitive ( def 2 ).

Other Words From

• super·sensi·tive·ness noun
• super·sensi·tivi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of supersensitive¹

First recorded in 1830–40; super- + sensitive

Example Sentences

Each one takes advantage of the mouth’s supersensitive touch sensors.

From Science News For Students

In an effort to help make science more inclusive, Shaw and his colleagues have come up with bite-sized molecule models that take advantage of the mouth’s supersensitive touch sensors, which can perceive finer details than our fingertips can.

From Science News

I greatly fear that she is of too supersensitive a nature to go through the world without trouble.

From Project Gutenberg

To his supersensitive watchfulness, McWha was singing that song “jest a purpose to be ugly to the kid.”

From Project Gutenberg

She bowed, coldly, so it seemed to my supersensitive imagination, and I replaced the hat and continued my walk.

From Project Gutenberg

Lameness is intense and the parts are swollen and supersensitive.

From Project Gutenberg

To a highly strung and supersensitive nature like the writer's the strain must have been terrible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conscious
• delicate
• emotional
• hypersensitive
• keen
• nervous
• perceptive
• precise
• receptive
• responsive
• susceptible
• tense
• touchy
• tricky
• unstable