sensitive
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.understanding the feelings of other people and being careful not to hurt them.
adj.displaying a quick or delicate appreciation of others' feelings.
Simple“He is a very sensitive teacher who always notices when a student is struggling.”
In context“The manager handled the redundancy meetings in a sensitive manner, ensuring that every affected employee felt heard and respected.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.getting hurt or offended very easily by what people say or do.
adj.easily hurt or offended; having a low threshold for emotional distress or criticism.
Simple“Don't be so sensitive; I was only joking about your new haircut.”
In context“She has always been sensitive about her height, so it is best to avoid making even casual comments on the subject.”
Teacher's tipIn this sense, the word can sometimes have a slightly negative tone, suggesting someone overreacts to criticism.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.needing to be kept secret because it could cause trouble if others see it.
adj.requiring tact or secrecy to avoid embarrassment or security risks.
Simple“The company asked her to sign a paper before showing her sensitive financial documents.”
In context“The leak of sensitive diplomatic cables caused a significant strain on international relations for several months.”
UsageOften used in business or government contexts to describe data or documents.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.able to measure very small changes.
adj.capable of registering very small quantities or slight changes in a physical property.
Simple“The laboratory uses a sensitive scale that can weigh a single hair.”
In context“The seismograph is sensitive enough to detect tectonic shifts occurring thousands of miles away from the station.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a person who claims to be able to feel or see spirits or ghosts.
n.a person supposedly endowed with psychic or paranormal powers of perception.
Simple“The old stories say a sensitive was called to the house to talk to the ghost.”
In context“In nineteenth-century literature, the sensitive was often depicted as a fragile individual capable of communing with the spirit world.”
Teacher's tipThis noun use is rare in modern daily speech; 'psychic' is much more common.
sensitive vs sensible — Sensible describes a person's logic and judgment, while sensitive describes their emotional or physical responsiveness.
Usage sensitive information · sensitive enough · sensitive geopolitical
“This makes them particularly sensitive to changes in climate.”
“If that approach proves practical, it could eventually help scientists develop more sensitive sensors and ultrathin electronic devices.”
From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.