# insensitive

/ˌɪnˈsɛnsətɪv/ (US) · /ɪnsˈɛnsɪtˌɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insensitive
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lacking empathy

adjective · CEFR B2

not noticing or caring about other people's feelings or needs.

For teachers: showing a lack of awareness or concern for the feelings and circumstances of others; tactless or inconsiderate.

- It was very insensitive of him to joke about her losing her job.
- The manager's insensitive remarks regarding the recent layoffs caused a significant drop in staff morale across the entire department.

### 2. physically numb

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

unable to feel physical pain or touch in a part of your body.

For teachers: deficient in physical sensation or unresponsive to external stimuli.

- After the surgery, his leg remained insensitive to pain for several hours.
- The nerve damage left the patient's fingertips largely insensitive to heat, necessitating extra caution during daily activities.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to'.

## Examples

- He made an insensitive remark about her new haircut.
- The manager's insensitive comments about the recent layoffs caused a significant drop in team morale.
- While his critique was technically accurate, the insensitive delivery ignored the immense effort the team had invested, leading to a breakdown in professional trust.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.