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callous attitude

callous attitude

1 7.2
A cold, uncaring way of treating other people
  • noun
  • /ˈkæləs ˈætɪtjud/
translation icon : actitud insensible
  • There is no excuse for this callous attitude.

Examples

  • Watch the video; this is the callous attitude they have.

    Blog text (20)
  • When that day arrived, he was going to thoroughly enjoy reminding Iain of this callous attitude.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Many people criticized the company's callous attitude towards employees who had lost their jobs.

  • Her callous attitude towards the less fortunate made it difficult for her to connect with others.

  • His callous attitude during the discussion about poverty shocked everyone in the room.

Synonyms

callousness
vscallous attitude
6 7.4

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

is shown as a way of behaving rather than only an inner lack of feeling
unkindness
vscallous attitude
3 4.1

Lack of care for other people

is an unemotional way of treating people rather than active intent to harm
abrasiveness
vscallous attitude
1 7.0

A harsh, rude manner or tone that offends people

is emotional unresponsiveness in approach rather than being blunt or offensive
callosity
vscallous attitude
9.9

A lack of pity or kindness toward other people

is an approach toward others rather than only inner hardness
irregardful attitude
vscallous attitude
9.5

Not caring about other people's needs and feelings

is emotional unresponsiveness rather than active or deliberate ignoring
pachydermatous attitude
vscallous attitude
  • Formal
9.9

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

is insensitive in feeling toward others rather than only resisting criticism
insensitiveness
vscallous attitude
7.6

Not noticing or caring about how other people feel

is an outward manner or approach rather than only lacking awareness
coldheartedness
vscallous attitude
7.6

Not caring about other people

is expressed as a way of dealing with people rather than deep indifference itself
hardheartedness
vscallous attitude
8.6

To not care about other people's feelings or needs

is shown as a manner toward others rather than only a private trait
pachydermatous response
vscallous attitude
  • Formal
9.9

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

is a lasting insensitivity in behaviour rather than a single reactive moment
uncharitableness
vscallous attitude
8.6

A lack of kindness or willingness to help others

is an unemotional manner toward others rather than a lack of giving

Antonyms

151 3.7

Feeling concern and care for people who suffer

30 4.4

To understand and share other people's feelings

How Insensitive

cruelness
1 4.5
callous attitude
1 7.2
caring
54 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

callous + attitude

The meaning 'an insensitive or emotionally unresponsive manner' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'callous' (insensitive) with 'attitude' (habitual way of thinking/behavior), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer the phrase. This adjective + noun composition is a regular, compositional pattern found across languages and follows ordinary semantic combination, making it accessible to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Callous attitude comes from the word callous, which means a hard patch of skin that cannot feel. So a callous attitude is a way of acting that does not feel others' pain and is 'insensitive'.