pachydermatous response
- noun
- /ˌpækɪdərˈmætəs rɪˈspɒns/
- Formal
- When faced with criticism, his pachydermatous response left others feeling unheard and dismissed.
Examples
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His pachydermatous response to the team's concerns offended many colleagues.
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Despite harsh criticism, she maintained a pachydermatous response throughout the meeting.
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A pachydermatous response is not always helpful when dealing with sensitive topics.
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His pachydermatous response to the criticism surprised everyone.
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She showed a pachydermatous response when her colleagues complained.
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Despite the team's efforts to explain their concerns, his pachydermatous response made it clear he was indifferent to their feelings.
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Her pachydermatous response to the negative feedback demonstrated a lack of empathy toward her coworkers.
Synonyms
Not noticing or caring about how other people feel
A reply that shows no feeling, warmth or interest
Antonyms
How Insensitive
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is a straightforward compositional combination: 'pachydermatous' (emotionally hardened/insensitive) modifies 'response' (reaction), yielding an emotionally insensitive reaction. This follows a standard adjective + noun pattern and is immediately derivable for learners who know both constituent meanings, so it is transparent.
Etymology
The phrase pachydermatous response comes from the word pachyderm, used for animals with very thick skin like elephants and rhinos. The picture of pachydermatous as 'thick skin' plus a response makes us think of an answer that does not feel hurt, so it means 'showing little or no concern for criticism or feelings'.