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Glite Dictionary
😢 Extreme sensitivity 🧬 Excessive body reaction
supersensitivity

supersensitivity

8.4
An unusually strong body response to a drug or chemical
  • noun
  • /ˌsuːpərˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hipersensibilidad
  • Prolonged use of certain medications can lead to supersensitivity in nerve receptors.

Examples

  • Researchers observed supersensitivity to the hormone after the treatment was stopped.

  • The patient's supersensitivity to allergens is concerning.

  • Patients with supersensitivity may experience stronger side effects from standard drug doses.

  • Many people experience supersensitivity during allergy season.

  • Patients with supersensitivity to certain allergens often react more severely to exposure than others.

  • The doctor explained that supersensitivity in the immune system can cause exaggerated allergic reactions.

  • During the experiment, scientists noted supersensitivity in the cells when exposed to the new drug.

Synonyms

hypersensitivity
vssupersensitivity
5 7.0

A very strong reaction to food, touch, or criticism

is limited to bodily exaggerated responses in cells tissues or the immune system
hypersensitization
vssupersensitivity
  • Specialized
9.3

A change that makes the body react strongly to something after repeated exposure

describes the abnormal bodily response itself rather than the becoming process

Antonyms

resistance
  • Specialized
54 4.1

A living thing's ability to survive disease or drugs

tolerance
  • Specialized
43 4.8

Ability to survive in bad conditions like heat or drought

How Sensitive

supersensitivity
  • Specialized
8.4
sensitivity
  • Specialized
15 4.2
insensitivity
16 5.5

Surface Forms

supersensitivity singular
supersensitivities plural

Morphology

supersensitivity = sensitivity (transparent) = super + sensitivity

Formed by adding the productive prefix 'super-' (meaning 'excessively') to 'sensitivity', so the meaning is directly inferable.

Etymology

Supersensitivity joins super- meaning 'above' or 'very', as in superstar, and sensitive from a root meaning 'to feel', as in sense. So, in medicine supersensitivity means an extra strong reaction in the body or its cells to a drug, hormone, or something else.