Word: Insensitive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition:
The word "insensitive" describes someone who does not understand or care about other people's feelings or needs. It can also mean that something does not respond to physical things, like touch or light.
Usage Instructions:
Examples:
In a sentence about feelings: "It was insensitive of him to make fun of her when she was upset."
In a scientific context: "The material is insensitive to temperature changes, meaning it won't react to heat."
Advanced Usage:
When discussing social issues, you might say someone is "insensitive to cultural differences," meaning they do not recognize or respect the feelings and practices of people from different backgrounds.
Word Variants:
Insensitivity (noun): This refers to the quality of being insensitive. For example, "Her insensitivity to his feelings hurt him deeply."
Insensitively (adverb): This describes the manner in which someone acts without sensitivity. For example, "He spoke insensitively about the tragedy."
Different Meanings:
Emotional Insensitivity: Not aware of or caring for others’ emotions.
Physical Insensitivity: Not responding to physical stimuli, like light or touch.
Synonyms:
Unfeeling
Callous
Indifferent
Unresponsive
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"To have a thick skin": This means to be able to handle criticism or emotional pain without being affected. For example, "In his job, he needs to have a thick skin because people often criticize his work."
There are no direct phrasal verbs for "insensitive," but you might use phrases like "brush off" someone’s feelings, which means to ignore them.
Summary:
"Insensitive" is a word that describes a lack of awareness or concern for others' feelings and can also refer to a lack of reaction to physical stimuli.