Basic Details
Word: Insensitive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Not caring about how other people feel, or not noticing their feelings. It can also mean not able to feel something, as in insensitive to pain.
Synonyms: unkind, thoughtless, tactless
Antonyms: sensitive, caring, thoughtful
How to Spell Insensitive
Syllables: in - sen - si - tive
Tricky part: After sens comes an i, not an a: sen-si-tive. The ending is tive, never tiv.
Watch out for: insensative, insencitive, insensitiv
Memory tip: The word sit hides inside: in-sen-SIT-ive. An insensitive person never sits down to think about others.
Usage Examples
Example 1: It was insensitive of Arjun to joke about Meera's broken arm.
Example 2: A good teacher is never insensitive to a shy child's worries.
Example 3: Please do not make insensitive comments about the way people look.
Fun Fact
Before an operation, doctors give anaesthesia to make a part of the body, or the whole body, insensitive to pain.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
insensitive
a) tactless
b) thoughtful
c) rude
d) heartless
Show answer
b) thoughtful. A thoughtful person cares about feelings; rude, tactless and heartless all describe someone insensitive.
Word Makeup
Choose the prefix that completes the word:
sensitive
a) im
b) dis
c) in
d) mis
Show answer
c) in. Sensitive takes in to show the opposite, just as active becomes inactive.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Laughing at a friend who has just lost a match is an insensative thing to do.
a) friend
b) match
c) insensative
d) Laughing
Show answer
c) insensative. Think of sensitive, with an i after sens, then put in at the front.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark would be insensitive?
a) Well done on your project.
b) Can I help you carry that?
c) Your painting is silly and ugly.
d) I am sorry you feel ill.
Show answer
c) Your painting is silly and ugly.
2. In 'After the numbing cream, her skin was insensitive to the injection', insensitive means ____.
a) badly hurt
b) unable to feel
c) unkind
d) very itchy
Show answer
b) unable to feel
