insensitive
Emotionally tone deaf
Insensitive describes a lack of awareness or responsiveness.
Someone insensitive to others' feelings fails to notice or care about them: That was an insensitive thing to say.
The word extends to physical responses—skin insensitive to touch, equipment insensitive to small changes.
An insensitive remark is one that disregards how it might affect others, whether through carelessness or indifference.
Lacking pity or mercy
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
hardhearted · brutal · ruthless · cold-hearted · uncompassionate · inhuman · unmerciful · stony
Made less intense
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- anesthetizedMade numb for surgery
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- imperviousUnable to be affected
inured · calloused · thick-skinned · unreactive · dulled · blunted · jaded · unaffected
Lacking interest or concern
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- unmovedNot stirred physically/emotionally
disinterested · aloof · nonchalant · dispassionate · impassive · unresponsive · blasé · stoic
Dull or tactlessly direct
- brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
- crassCrudely lacking refinement
- rudeOffensively ill-mannered
- impoliteLacking good manners
inconsiderate · thoughtless · indelicate · gauche · undiplomatic · offensive · crude · coarse
Lacking any awareness
- cluelessLacking any understanding
- blindLacking the sense of sight
- ignorantLacking knowledge or awareness
- heedlessCareless of consequences
unperceptive · inattentive · unknowing · unmindful · unseeing · unobservant · dense · obtuse
heartless
Lacking pity or mercy
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- pitilessLacking any compassion
merciless · hardhearted · brutal · ruthless · cold-hearted · uncompassionate · inhuman · unmerciful · stony · savage
deadened
Made less intense
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- anesthetizedMade numb for surgery
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
impervious · inured · calloused · thick-skinned · unreactive · dulled · blunted · jaded · unaffected · immune
indifferent
Lacking interest or concern
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- detachedApart or uninvolved
unmoved · disinterested · aloof · nonchalant · dispassionate · impassive · unresponsive · blasé · stoic · phlegmatic
blunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
impolite · inconsiderate · thoughtless · indelicate · gauche · undiplomatic · offensive · crude · coarse · brash
oblivious
Lacking any awareness
- cluelessLacking any understanding
- blindLacking the sense of sight
- ignorantLacking knowledge or awareness
heedless · unperceptive · inattentive · unknowing · unmindful · unseeing · unobservant · dense · obtuse · imperceptive
- cold-heartedcallous, cold, cold-blooded, cold-hearted, cruel
- sensitivitysensitization, desensitization, touchiness, photosensitivity, photophobia
- selfish traitsselfish, greedy, self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical
- out of touchdisconnected, oblivious, unaware, clueless, detached
- egotismarrogant, conceited, egocentric, egomaniac, egotist
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
insensitivesensitive
Easily affected emotionally
compassionate · empathetic · thoughtful · considerate · sympathetic
insensitivesensitive
Easily affected emotionally
responsive · empathetic · sensate · reactive · compassionate
insensitivetactful
Socially sensitive and careful
considerate · thoughtful · diplomatic · discreet · mindful
- cultural insensitivityDisregard for others' traditions