Word
callous
Phoneticscal·lous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkæɫəs/
UK/kˈæləs/
Definition
adj. showing no care or sympathy for the feelings or suffering of other people. You use this to describe someone who is cold and unkind.
adj. exhibiting a cruel disregard for others; insensitive and unsympathetic. Often used to describe individuals in positions of power or specific harmful actions.
Examples
“The manager made a callous remark about the staff.”
“The company's callous decision to fire the workers right before the holidays sparked a massive public protest.”
“His callous indifference to the plight of the refugees was widely condemned by international human rights organizations as a violation of basic moral standards.”
Examples
simple
“The manager made a callous remark about the staff.”
contextual
“The company's callous decision to fire the workers right before the holidays sparked a massive public protest.”
complex
“His callous indifference to the plight of the refugees was widely condemned by international human rights organizations as a violation of basic moral standards.”
Usage
Typically used as an adjective to describe people, attitudes, or actions. It can be used both before a noun or after a linking verb.
Real-World Examples
“How to keep the audience on board with someone who is callous and indifferent?” “But others called for swift action, arguing they were callous, mocking, and could even incite further violence.” Etymology
From Latin callōsus (“hard-skinned”), from callum (“hardened skin”) + -ōsus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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