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Glite Dictionary
hyperesthesia

hyperesthesia

1 9.9
An increased sensitivity to touch and other senses that makes even light contact painful
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpərɛsˈθiːʒə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hiperestesia
  • Due to her hyperesthesia, even light touches caused her significant discomfort.

Examples

  • He was diagnosed with hyperesthesia, making him sensitive to everyday sounds and textures.

  • The metaphor here would be the generation by the erosion of popular living standards of a sort of political hyperesthesia which in itself might not spur collective violence, but which in combination with sharpening cultural and political conflict might produce that very effect.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The patient experienced hyperesthesia, feeling sensations much more intensely than usual.

Synonyms

hypersensitivity
vshyperesthesia
5 7.0

A very strong reaction to food, touch, or criticism

is limited to unusually strong bodily sense reactions to touch or other senses
supersensitivity
vshyperesthesia
8.1

A state of very strong reaction to physical or emotional things

focuses on heightened touch and other sensory experience rather than broad responsiveness
hyperexcitability
vshyperesthesia
  • Specialized
9.2

A state when nerves, muscles, or behaviour react too much

is about increased nerve or muscle response rather than stronger sense experience

Antonyms

hypoesthesia
  • Specialized
9.9

A reduced feeling in part of the body often caused by nerve damage

Compounds

auditory hyperesthesia
  • Specialized
9.7

A condition of very sensitive hearing that makes normal sounds feel too loud

How Sensitive

hyperesthesia
  • Specialized
1 9.9
hypoesthesia
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

hyperesthesia singular
hyperesthesias plural

Morphology

hyperesthesia = hyper + esthesia

The prefix hyper- clearly suggests excess or heightened degree, but the base esthesia is a technical combining form rather than a common English word, so most learners cannot reliably infer the full meaning.

Etymology

Hyperesthesia comes from hyper- meaning 'over' or 'too much' and -esthesia meaning 'feeling' or 'sensation', so it is like 'too much feeling'. That's why hyperesthesia describes a condition where someone feels touch and other sensations much more strongly than usual.