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insensibility

insensibility

7.6
A lack of feeling or care for other people's pain
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnˌsɛn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
translation icon : insensibilidad emocional
  • " In such circumstances, Madison warned prophetically, "the impossibility of acting together might be succeeded by the inefficacy of partial expressions of the public mind, and this at length, by a universal silence and insensibility."

Examples

  • And then the Kardashians for insensibility, for not appreciating the pleasures sufficiently.

  • 12 Newman dismissed the long period of separation from the West as "eight centuries ... of religious deadness and insensibility."

    Academic text (1990)
  • Friedrich's insensibility becomes starkly clear in his treatment of suicide.

    Academic text (1994)
  • I despised myself, accused myself in turn of insensibility, superficiality, and disrespect.

    Academic text (2010)
  • His insensibility towards the suffering of others shocked everyone in the room.

  • The teacher was frustrated by the students' insensibility to their classmates' feelings.

  • Her insensibility in response to the tragic news made it difficult for her friends to understand her.

Synonyms

insensitivity
vsinsensibility
16 5.5

A lack of care for other people's feelings or needs

is more about inner hardness and absence of feeling
callousness
vsinsensibility
6 7.4

A lack of concern for other people's feelings or suffering

is similar but focuses on general heartlessness rather than brief insensitivity
hardness
vsinsensibility
4 6.3

Lack of feeling or kindness in someone's behavior

is mainly an inner lack of feeling rather than stern conduct
impassivity
vsinsensibility
1 8.8

A lack of emotion or visible reaction

is a deeper absence of sympathy and warmth rather than silence
unfeelingness
vsinsensibility
8.3

A lack of care or sympathy

is similar but stresses a general absence of sensitivity
callosity
vsinsensibility
9.9

A lack of pity or kindness toward other people

is the same hardness but in broader emotional coldness
coldheartedness
vsinsensibility
7.6

Not caring about other people

is broader lack of sensitivity including emotional numbness as well
insensitiveness
vsinsensibility
7.6

Not noticing or caring about how other people feel

is more about deliberate hardness and absence of compassion
unemotionality
vsinsensibility
8.3

A state of showing little or no feeling

is about lack of compassion and heart rather than mere flatness
impassiveness
vsinsensibility
7.9

A lack of visible emotion

is more about moral coldness and hardened heart than mere reserve
impassibility
vsinsensibility
9.5

Not showing feeling or reaction to events

is stronger, denoting lack of compassion and hardness of heart

Antonyms

423 2.7

A strong feeling of care for someone who is suffering and a wish to help them

sensitivity
  • Specialized
15 4.2

The body's ability to feel things like touch or light

How Sensitive

empathy
154 3.2
compassion
423 2.7
insensibility
7.6
indifference
71 4.6
callousness
6 7.4

Surface Forms

insensibility singular

Morphology

insensibility = insensible (semi-transparent) = in + sense + ible + ity

This is a regular noun formation from the adjective 'insensible' with '-ity', meaning the state or quality of being insensible.

Etymology

Insensibility is built from in- 'not' and sense 'feeling', and you can compare it to sensitive (able to feel). So, insensibility can mean a lack of emotion or compassion—'not feeling' for others.