callous

1 of 2

adjective

cal·lous ˈka-ləs How to pronounce callous (audio)

: being hardened and thickened

: having calluses

callous hands

: feeling no emotion

: feeling or showing no sympathy for others : hard-hearted

a callous indifference to suffering

callously adverb

callousness noun

callous

2 of 2

verb

cal·lous ˈka-ləs How to pronounce callous (audio)

calloused; callousing; callouses

transitive verb

: to make callous

hands calloused by hard manual labor

Did you know?

A callus is a hard, thickened area of skin that develops usually from friction or irritation over time. Such a hardened area often leaves one less sensitive to the touch, so it's no surprise that the adjective callous, in addition to describing skin that is hard and thick, can also be used as a synonym for harsh or insensitive. Both callus and callous derive via Middle English from Latin. The figurative sense of callous entered English almost 300 years after the literal sense, and Robert Louis Stevenson used it aptly when he wrote, in Treasure Island, "But, indeed, from what I saw, all these buccaneers were as callous as the sea they sailed on."

Example Sentences

Adjective … under Orton's own companionable charm there was something hard and callous, the result no doubt of a loveless upbringing …

Benedict Nightingale, New York Times Book Review, 10 May 1987 … the scenes involving the snotty, callous dean ring false right from the start …

Pauline Kael, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 1985 Patient, cold and callous, our hands wrapped in socks, we waited to snowball the cats.

Dylan Thomas, "A Child's Christmas in Wales," in Quite Early One Morning, 1954 a selfish and callous young man a callous refusal to help the poor

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

However, some argue that Singapore’s treatment of death row inmates isn’t entirely callous.

Wee Ling Soh, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2022 People with Dark Triad traits tend to be callous and manipulative; have an inflated view of themselves and shamelessly self-promote; and be willing to deceive to get their way.

Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 June 2022 Magness argues that our culture’s conventional view of toughness as being callous and insensitive actually leads to fragile individuals ill-equipped to handle adversity.

The Editors, Outside Online, 9 June 2022 So don’t be callous or cruel, but remember that nobody else is the major ingredient to your creative formula.

New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 The callous disregard of veterans is a shameful and overlooked tradition in American history.

Jason A. Higgins, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022 Travel, especially across an ocean, seemed indulgent, even callous.

E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2022 Still, there’s something callous about how casually Leitch takes human life.

Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Aug. 2022 The callous episode of gun violence unfolded at the Subway connected to a Circle K on Northside Drive, two blocks south of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Matt Bruce, ajc, 2 July 2022

Verb

His hands are raw, his feet are calloused, but Monday was a new day, a new challenge, inspiring new hope.

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2020 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused.

Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused.

Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 See More

单词	callous
释义	callous 1 of 2 adjective cal·lous ˈka-ləs 1 a : being hardened and thickened b : having calluses callous hands 2 a : feeling no emotion b : feeling or showing no sympathy for others : hard-hearted a callous indifference to suffering callously adverb callousness noun callous 2 of 2 verb cal·lous ˈka-ləs calloused; callousing; callouses transitive verb : to make callous hands calloused by hard manual labor Did you know? A callus is a hard, thickened area of skin that develops usually from friction or irritation over time. Such a hardened area often leaves one less sensitive to the touch, so it's no surprise that the adjective callous, in addition to describing skin that is hard and thick, can also be used as a synonym for harsh or insensitive. Both callus and callous derive via Middle English from Latin. The figurative sense of callous entered English almost 300 years after the literal sense, and Robert Louis Stevenson used it aptly when he wrote, in Treasure Island, "But, indeed, from what I saw, all these buccaneers were as callous as the sea they sailed on." Synonyms Adjective affectless case-hardened cold-blooded compassionless desensitized hard hard-boiled hard-hearted heartless indurate inhuman inhumane insensate insensitive ironhearted merciless obdurate pachydermatous pitiless remorseless ruthless slash-and-burn soulless stony stoney stonyhearted take-no-prisoners thick-skinned uncharitable unfeeling unmerciful unsparing unsympathetic See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective … under Orton's own companionable charm there was something hard and callous, the result no doubt of a loveless upbringing … Benedict Nightingale, New York Times Book Review, 10 May 1987 … the scenes involving the snotty, callous dean ring false right from the start … Pauline Kael, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 1985 Patient, cold and callous, our hands wrapped in socks, we waited to snowball the cats. Dylan Thomas, "A Child's Christmas in Wales," in Quite Early One Morning, 1954 a selfish and callous young man a callous refusal to help the poor Recent Examples on the Web Adjective However, some argue that Singapore’s treatment of death row inmates isn’t entirely callous. Wee Ling Soh, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2022 People with Dark Triad traits tend to be callous and manipulative; have an inflated view of themselves and shamelessly self-promote; and be willing to deceive to get their way. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 June 2022 Magness argues that our culture’s conventional view of toughness as being callous and insensitive actually leads to fragile individuals ill-equipped to handle adversity. The Editors, Outside Online, 9 June 2022 So don’t be callous or cruel, but remember that nobody else is the major ingredient to your creative formula. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 The callous disregard of veterans is a shameful and overlooked tradition in American history. Jason A. Higgins, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022 Travel, especially across an ocean, seemed indulgent, even callous. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2022 Still, there’s something callous about how casually Leitch takes human life. Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Aug. 2022 The callous episode of gun violence unfolded at the Subway connected to a Circle K on Northside Drive, two blocks south of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Matt Bruce, ajc, 2 July 2022 Verb His hands are raw, his feet are calloused, but Monday was a new day, a new challenge, inspiring new hope. Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2020 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 His beard was rough, and his hands were cracked and calloused. Peter Talbot, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2019 See More Word History Etymology Adjective and Verb Middle English, from Latin callosus, from callum, callus callous skin First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb 1769, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition callous adjective cal·lous ˈka-ləs : feeling or showing no sympathy for others a callous refusal to help Medical Definition callous adjective cal·lous ˈkal-əs 1 : being hardened and thickened 2 : having calluses callous adjective as in ruthless having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings the callous comment "It's just a fish," when the boy's pet died, made him cry Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ruthless merciless heartless cruel unfeeling insensitive compassionless stony abusive hard pitiless hateful inhumane harsh oppressive inhuman brutal malicious unsympathetic remorseless uncharitable vicious soulless insensate unmerciful obdurate tough stern desensitized hard-hearted indurate uncaring grim unsparing affectless thoughtless savage cold-blooded severe inconsiderate unthinking pachydermatous thick-skinned boorish mean spiteful unloving slash-and-burn rough case-hardened unfriendly stoney hard-boiled ungentle take-no-prisoners ironhearted heedless malevolent stonyhearted cold surly disagreeable virulent brutish barbarous bestial acrimonious jackbooted rancorous sledgehammer hard-bitten heavy-handed ill-tempered ill-natured austere ironfisted frosty evil-minded rough-and-tumble ironhanded knock-down-and-drag-out knock-down, drag-out Antonyms & Near Antonyms sympathetic compassionate merciful charitable sensitive warm humane benevolent gentle kindhearted kindly kind warmhearted softhearted tender mild indulgent lenient tenderhearted benignant gracious friendly cordial affectionate tolerant loving good-natured understanding fond good-tempered clement See More
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callous

adjective

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective