Word family noun sense ≠ nonsense sensibility ≠ insensibility sensitivity ≠ insensitivity senselessness sensitization sensor adjective sensible insensible senseless sensitive ≠ insensitive sensory nonsensical insensate verb sense sensitize adverb sensibly senselessly sensitively ≠ insensitively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinsensitivein‧sen‧si‧tive /ɪnˈsensətɪv/ adjective 1 NOTICEUNKINDnot noticing, or not taking the care to notice, other people’s feelings, and not realizing when they are upset or when something that you do will upset them One insensitive official insisted on seeing her husband’s death certificate. an insensitive remarkinsensitive to She’s totally insensitive to Jack’s feelings.► see thesaurus at unkind2 ATTENTION[not before noun] not paying attention to what is happening or to what people are saying, and therefore not changing your behaviour because of itinsensitive to Companies that are insensitive to global changes will lose sales. The service is insensitive to the needs of local people.3 FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC[not before noun] not affected by physical effects or changesinsensitive to insensitive to pain —insensitively adverb —insensitivity /ɪnˌsensəˈtɪvəti/ noun [uncountable]Examples from the Corpus
insensitive• How could you be so insensitive?• Kelsey denies making racially insensitive statements.• Doctors sometimes seem insensitive to their patients' feelings.insensitive to• She's totally insensitive to Jack's feelings.• The material is insensitive to light.• Some people are more insensitive to pain than others.• The state government is insensitive to the needs of the poor and minorities. 