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sensitivity

sensitivity

15 4.2
The body's ability to feel things like touch or light
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sensibilidad
  • Are you overly tired or experiencing increased sensitivity?
  • sensitivity to light
  • loss of sensitivity
  • increased sensitivity

It gives you strength, focus, sensitivity, heightens all six senses.

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Examples

  • She had extreme sensitivity to sound.

  • Research has shown a direct relationship between physical activity levels and insulin sensitivity.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I have normal sensitivity all over.

  • Any sensitivity to this light?

  • But scientists have also found your sensitivity changes as you age.

  • Do you have any areas of unusual sensitivity?

  • I've been losing sensitivity to hot and cold.

  • I developed a hyper-sensitivity to sound.

  • In either case, addressing noncompliance will require the time and sensitivity to first identify its causes.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The musician had an exceptional sensitivity to the subtle changes in the audience's reactions.

Synonyms

responsiveness
vssensitivity
9 4.3

A quick, helpful reaction that shows attention or interest

is about the bodily faculty for sensing rather than emotional or positive reaction
sensibility
vssensitivity
8 6.6

Ability to feel physical things like touch or pain

is identical in meaning but is a different word form
reactivity
vssensitivity
1 6.8

How quickly a person or thing responds to a stimulus like noise

is about the basic faculty of sensing rather than the response process
sensitiveness
vssensitivity
6.8

Ability to feel or notice very small physical changes

is about responding to external stimuli in general rather than only tiny ones
responsivity
vssensitivity
7.7

How quickly and strongly something reacts to a change

is about how fast or strong reactions are rather than simple sensing
acuteness
vssensitivity
6.5

A very strong ability to notice things by sight, hearing, or smell

is the general ability to respond to external input rather than refined sense skill
reactiveness
vssensitivity
5.3

Being quick to respond to changes

is the basic faculty of sensing rather than the quickness of response

How Sensitive

sensitivity
  • Specialized
15 4.2
numbness
19 4.6

Surface Forms

sensitivity singular
sensitivities plural

Morphology

sensitivity = sensitive (transparent) = sensitive + ity

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'sensitive' describing the faculty or ability to sense.

Etymology

Sensitivity comes from the root sens-, from the Latin sentire meaning 'to feel'. Think of skin or nerves that notice touch or light, so sensitivity here is the body's ability to feel outside signals.