Skip to main content
to desensitize

to desensitize

10 6.3
To make people and animals feel less strong reactions to pain, fear or loud sounds, often by repeated exposure
  • verb
  • /ˌdiːˈsɛnsaɪtaɪz/
translation icon : insensibilizar
  • Some studies show that watching too much violent television can desensitize viewers to real-life aggression.
  • become desensitized

The autonomic nervous system has been desensitized and we need to regulate it again.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • For example, greater exposure to violent media desensitizes people to the effects of violence and aggression.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And over a period of weeks, I started to become desensitized to that sound, just became kind of background noise.

  • Using it could desensitize you to men forever.

  • And then we find that line and desensitize slowly.

  • Now we said that feedback can be used to desensitize us to variations in forward path gain.

  • Some instructors believe that repeated testing will eventually desensitize students.

    Academic text (1994)
  • To help the recipient's body accept this foreign body part, his or her immune system must be desensitized.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Several boys were desensitized to the threat of violent victimization.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Training should allow students to practice these skills and become desensitized to anxiety associated with explorative thinking.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Normalizing is a tactic used to desensitize an individual to abusive, coercive, or inappropriate behaviors.

    Blog text (10)

Synonyms

to harden
vsto desensitize
57 3.9

Make someone less sensitive to unpleasant things

is about reduced response across many types of stimulation not only unpleasant ones
to inure
vsto desensitize
  • Formal
4 8.9

Become used to something unpleasant so it no longer bothers you

reduces responsiveness but may not remove all effect
to deaden
vsto desensitize
3 5.5

To make a feeling, sound, or pain less strong

reduces responsiveness to stimulation rather than lowering strength generally
to benumb
vsto desensitize
1 8.5

To make a person unable to feel pain or strong emotion

lessens sensitivity gradually, typically through repeated exposure rather than sudden numbness

Antonyms

3 6.1

Make a person more likely to react to something like an allergen or idea

How Desensitizing

to numb
62 4.2
to desensitize
10 6.3
to inure
  • Formal
4 8.9
to dull
33 3.4

Surface Forms

desensitize infinitive
desensitized past participle
desensitizing present participle
desensitizes third person singular

Morphology

desensitize = sensitize (transparent) = de + sensit + ive + ize

The step from 'sensitize' to 'desensitize' is a standard and readily understandable use of 'de-' meaning to reduce or reverse a state.

Etymology

Desensitize comes from the parts de- meaning 'remove', sense meaning 'feeling', seen in sensitive, and -ize meaning 'to make'. So to desensitize someone is to 'take away' some feeling or make them less responsive, which is why repeated exposure can reduce a strong reaction.