🐘 Thick-skinned 🧊 Emotionally tough

pachydermatous

9.9

Not easily upset by what others say or feel

adjective
/ˌpækɪˈdɜrmətəs/

Literature

: insensible

His pachydermatous attitude made it hard for him to connect with others.

Examples

In a crisis, his pachydermatous demeanor prevented him from empathizing with those in need.
In politics, many leaders become pachydermatous to public opinion over time.
Despite the team's criticism, he remained pachydermatous and unmoved.
Her pachydermatous response to the news shocked everyone in the room.
She seemed pachydermatous after the criticism from her peers.
Her pachydermatous response to the criticism showed her unwillingness to change.
Many corporate leaders become pachydermatous after years of dealing with tough negotiations.

Synonyms

cold-blooded

vspachydermatous

Offensive

78 6.1

Showing no pity and acting cruel on purpose

is emotional hardening often formed by experience rather than planned cruelty

callous

vspachydermatous

41 7.3

Not caring about other people's feelings or pain

is emotional hardening that often comes from experience rather than calculated cruelty

hardened

vspachydermatous

38 5.6

Made emotionally tougher after repeated difficult experiences

is similar but used mainly as a figurative personality description

unforgiving

vspachydermatous

36 5.8

Not willing to forgive someone and acting without mercy

is emotional toughening that stresses insensitivity more than judgemental harshness

abrasive

vspachydermatous

20 6.5

Showing little concern for other people's feelings

is emotional hardening that describes attitude rather than speaking style

hard-boiled

vspachydermatous

9 6.5

A person who is tough and does not show feelings or pity

is emotional hardening that stresses insensitivity rather than simply toughness

stony

vspachydermatous

7 6.5

Showing no feeling or sympathy

is the broader figurative label for that unemotional stance

brittle

vspachydermatous

6 7.4

Cold and unfriendly in the way someone behaves

is about being thick skinned emotionally rather than merely distant

remorseless

vspachydermatous

6 7.5

Not feeling sorry and continuing without stopping when hurting others

is emotional hardening that may be unfeeling rather than intentionally cruel

hard-bitten

vspachydermatous

4 8.2

Tough and not easily upset because of difficult past experiences

is about emotional hardening generally, not only toughness from survival

uncompassionate

vspachydermatous

1 7.3

Not caring when other people suffer

is a figurative description of being emotionally hardened rather than clinical lack

hardhearted

vspachydermatous

1 7.2

Not feeling or showing pity for other people

is emotional hardening that focuses on inner insensitivity rather than mercy alone

meanspirited

vspachydermatous

Offensive

1 7.4

Unkind and petty in a way that hurts other people

is broader emotional insensitivity rather than focused mean cruelty

callused

vspachydermatous

1 7.2

Less sensitive to other people's pain after repeated exposure

is the same emotional hardening but used figuratively to describe attitude change

ungiving

vspachydermatous

1 7.4

Not willing to give, share, or be kind to others

is emotional hardening toward others rather than simple unwillingness to share

case-hardened

vspachydermatous

1 8.6

Being emotionally hard and not showing feelings because of bad experiences

is the figurative term emphasising the resulting insensitive attitude

stonyhearted

vspachydermatous

1 9.6

Not feeling sorry for other people

is the figurative form highlighting emotional insensitivity rather than specific behavior

indurate

vspachydermatous

Formal

1 9.9

Not able to feel or show care for other people

is emotional toughening often due to experience rather than innate coldness

Antonyms

sensitive

424 2.9

Aware of and careful about other people's feelings

Compounds

pachydermatous attitude

Formal

9.9

A way of behaving that shows little care for other people's feelings

pachydermatous response

Formal

9.9

A reaction that shows little concern for criticism or others' feelings

How Insensitive

callous

41 7.3

pachydermatous

Literature

9.9

unmoved

10 5.1

insensitive

119 4.6

sensitive

2 4.4

Surface Forms

pachydermatous positive

Morphology

pachydermatous = pachyderm (semi-transparent) = pachyderm + ous

The adjective is built from 'pachyderm' + '-ous', but the sense is a figurative extension ('thick-skinned' → emotionally insensitive), which is not strictly deducible without world/cultural knowledge.

Etymology

Pachydermatous is a helpful word to remember as 'thick skin' because it comes from the Greek parts pachy- 'thick' and derma 'skin'. So it can describe a person who is emotionally hard and not easily hurt.