highly insensitive
- adjective
- /ˈhaɪli ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
:
altamente insensible
- It is highly insensitive and inappropriate, especially to those of us who lost loved ones and relatives at "Ground Zero" that fateful day.
Examples
-
The article contained highly insensitive remarks that upset many readers.
-
His comments about the tragedy were seen as highly insensitive by those affected.
-
Many found her joke about the situation highly insensitive and thoughtless.
Synonyms
124
4.6
Not showing care for other people's feelings or needs
43
5.6
Acting as if someone or something is not important
41
7.3
Not caring about other people's feelings or pain
36
4.1
Not caring about other people's feelings or needs
18
4.2
Not showing concern for other people's feelings or needs
18
6.5
Showing little concern for other people's feelings
14
5.9
Not showing sympathy or care for other people's feelings
7
4.9
Not feeling sorry for someone or caring about their problems
6
7.7
Not aware of other people's feelings or reactions
5
4.9
Showing no care for other people's feelings when speaking or acting
1
7.3
Does not notice or care about things that upset other people
1
7.3
Not caring when other people suffer
1
9.9
Having no feeling in body or mind and no pity
Not careful about other people's feelings when you speak or act, making others feel bad
Not able or willing to notice how other people feel
Antonyms
How Insensitive
- Offensive
79
4.1
41
7.3
124
4.6
46
4.4
488
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'extremely lacking in sensitivity' is directly and transparently derived from combining the intensifier 'highly' (extremely) with the adjective 'insensitive' (lacking empathy). This adverb + adjective compositional pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic construction, so a B1 learner who knows both words can reliably infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase highly insensitive comes from the image of someone who cannot feel: imagine numb hands that do not notice a touch or a burn. So, calling someone highly insensitive means they are very 'not noticing' or 'not careful about' other people's feelings.