insensitive
adjective
in·sen·si·tive
(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv 
1
a
: lacking feeling or tact
so insensitive as to laugh at someone in pain
b
: not responsive or susceptible
insensitive to the demands of the public
2
: not physically or chemically sensitive
Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- heartless
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- ironhearted
- merciless
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stony
- stoney
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
Examples of insensitive in a Sentence
He's just a rude, insensitive jerk.
It was insensitive of her to say that.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a separate incident online in late July, old videos of Donaldson making racially insensitive jokes resurfaced, prompting an apology from the YouTuber.
—
Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 13 Aug. 2024
The party—while empathetic to workers at large—was often insensitive to the individual needs of female comrades.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2024
Lively also released her new hair care line, Blake Brown, during the movie’s press run, a move some online critics found insensitive given the film’s subject matter.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
In her TikTok videos, Kira — who did not respond to a request for comment — suggests that creators who have experienced scandals involving insensitive remarks have not grown from their past comments.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insensitive 
Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 13 Aug. 2024
The party—while empathetic to workers at large—was often insensitive to the individual needs of female comrades.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2024
Lively also released her new hair care line, Blake Brown, during the movie’s press run, a move some online critics found insensitive given the film’s subject matter.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
In her TikTok videos, Kira — who did not respond to a request for comment — suggests that creators who have experienced scandals involving insensitive remarks have not grown from their past comments.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insensitive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insensitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near insensitive
Cite this Entry
“Insensitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insensitive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insensitive
adjective
in·sen·si·tive
(ˈ)in-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv
-ˈsen(t)-stiv
: not sensitive
especially
: lacking feeling
insensitively
adverb
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