desensitize

verb

de·sen·si·tize (ˌ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz How to pronounce desensitize (audio)

desensitized; desensitizing; desensitizes

transitive verb

: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent

: to make emotionally insensitive or callous

specifically : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it

desensitization

(ˌ)dē-ˌsen(t)-sə-tə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce desensitize (audio)

noun

desensitizer

(ˌ)dē-ˈsen-sə-ˌtī-zər How to pronounce desensitize (audio)

noun

Did you know?

Physical desensitizing is something that biologists have long been aware of. Basic training in the armed forces tries to desensitize new recruits to pain. We can desensitize ourselves to the summer heat by turning off the air conditioning, or become desensitized to the cold by walking barefoot in the snow. But desensitize is more often used when talking about negative emotions. Parents worry that their children will be desensitized to violence by playing video games. Soldiers may become desensitized to death on the battlefield. Desensitizing may be natural and desirable under some circumstances, but maybe not so good in others.

Example Sentences

The shot will help to desensitize the nerve.

Recent Examples on the Web The current tech may also desensitize motorists to real emergencies and create liabilities for companies.

Morgan Korn, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2022 Strategic thinking training should enable participants to practice rapid change in an effort to desensitize them.

Bill Hall, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Immunotherapy involves exposing you to small, controlled amounts of allergens to desensitize your immune system response.

Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 24 May 2022 It was also used to desensitize gun powder for naval guns, a corrosion inhibitor for brass casings and waterproofing for airplanes, ammunition, and also in motors and electric coils.

Steven Savage, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 Some of the trainers at least wanted to desensitize Tilikum in case someone fell in.

Tim Zimmermann, Outside Online, 30 July 2010 Morally, portraying the enemy as ready to commit the most depraved crimes helped desensitize combatants and added further fuel to a fast escalating cycle of entirely conventional violence.

Claas Kirchhelle, Wired, 11 Mar. 2022 Swing voters are far more concerned about how social media and videogames may undermine the mental development of children, desensitize them to violence, delay their socialization, and put their personal data at risk of exploitation.

Karl Rove, WSJ, 9 Feb. 2022 Technicians typically use a numbing gel to help desensitize the area before and after the laser treatment to minimize discomfort.

Jessica Cruel, SELF, 25 Jan. 2022 See More

Medical Definition

desensitize

transitive verb

de·sen·si·tize

variants also British desensitise

(ˈ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz How to pronounce desensitize (audio)

desensitized also British desensitised; desensitizing also British desensitising

: to make less sensitive : reduce sensitivity in

desensitize a nerve with a local anesthetic

: as

: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent

: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli which formerly induced it : make emotionally insensitive

evidence that violence on television desensitizes children to actual violence

Stephanie Harrington

: to decrease a response (as of a cell receptor) progressively following prolonged exposure to a stimulus

formation of cAMP was reduced significantly in desensitized cells and remained low in the continuous presence of agonist

S. M. Nilius et al.

desensitized

adjective

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings having lived through the horrors of war, the soldiers had seemingly become desensitized to virtually all human suffering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

ruthless
merciless
insensitive
callous
hard
abusive
hateful
insensate
stony
harsh
oppressive
brutal
compassionless
cruel
unfeeling
inhuman
soulless
inhumane
heartless
remorseless
unsympathetic
indurate
pitiless
severe
vicious
tough
affectless
malicious
unmerciful
obdurate
grim
uncharitable
savage
stern
hard-hearted
pachydermatous
thoughtless
unthinking
mean
unsparing
ironhearted
stonyhearted
thick-skinned
uncaring
case-hardened
inconsiderate
hard-boiled
boorish
cold-blooded
rough
stoney
slash-and-burn
heedless
unloving
virulent
ungentle
unfriendly
disagreeable
bestial
take-no-prisoners
cold
surly
jackbooted
spiteful
barbarous
sledgehammer
malevolent
rancorous
brutish
heavy-handed
hard-bitten
acrimonious
ironhanded
rough-and-tumble
ironfisted
knock-down, drag-out
austere
knock-down-and-drag-out
ill-natured
ill-tempered
evil-minded
frosty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sensitive
sympathetic
merciful
warm
humane
compassionate
kind
mild
charitable
gentle
kindly
kindhearted
benevolent
lenient
tender
indulgent
tenderhearted
tolerant
softhearted
warmhearted
understanding
friendly
benignant
loving
gracious
affectionate
cordial
fond
clement
good-natured
good-tempered

单词	desensitized
释义	desensitize verb de·sen·si·tize (ˌ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz desensitized; desensitizing; desensitizes transitive verb 1 : to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent 2 : to make emotionally insensitive or callous specifically : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it desensitization (ˌ)dē-ˌsen(t)-sə-tə-ˈzā-shən noun desensitizer (ˌ)dē-ˈsen-sə-ˌtī-zər noun Did you know? Physical desensitizing is something that biologists have long been aware of. Basic training in the armed forces tries to desensitize new recruits to pain. We can desensitize ourselves to the summer heat by turning off the air conditioning, or become desensitized to the cold by walking barefoot in the snow. But desensitize is more often used when talking about negative emotions. Parents worry that their children will be desensitized to violence by playing video games. Soldiers may become desensitized to death on the battlefield. Desensitizing may be natural and desirable under some circumstances, but maybe not so good in others. Example Sentences The shot will help to desensitize the nerve. Recent Examples on the Web The current tech may also desensitize motorists to real emergencies and create liabilities for companies. Morgan Korn, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2022 Strategic thinking training should enable participants to practice rapid change in an effort to desensitize them. Bill Hall, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Immunotherapy involves exposing you to small, controlled amounts of allergens to desensitize your immune system response. Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 24 May 2022 It was also used to desensitize gun powder for naval guns, a corrosion inhibitor for brass casings and waterproofing for airplanes, ammunition, and also in motors and electric coils. Steven Savage, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 Some of the trainers at least wanted to desensitize Tilikum in case someone fell in. Tim Zimmermann, Outside Online, 30 July 2010 Morally, portraying the enemy as ready to commit the most depraved crimes helped desensitize combatants and added further fuel to a fast escalating cycle of entirely conventional violence. Claas Kirchhelle, Wired, 11 Mar. 2022 Swing voters are far more concerned about how social media and videogames may undermine the mental development of children, desensitize them to violence, delay their socialization, and put their personal data at risk of exploitation. Karl Rove, WSJ, 9 Feb. 2022 Technicians typically use a numbing gel to help desensitize the area before and after the laser treatment to minimize discomfort. Jessica Cruel, SELF, 25 Jan. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Medical Definition desensitize transitive verb de·sen·si·tize variants also British desensitise (ˈ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz desensitized also British desensitised; desensitizing also British desensitising : to make less sensitive : reduce sensitivity in desensitize a nerve with a local anesthetic : as a : to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent b : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli which formerly induced it : make emotionally insensitive evidence that violence on television desensitizes children to actual violence Stephanie Harrington c : to decrease a response (as of a cell receptor) progressively following prolonged exposure to a stimulus formation of cAMP was reduced significantly in desensitized cells and remained low in the continuous presence of agonist S. M. Nilius et al. desensitized adjective as in ruthless having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings having lived through the horrors of war, the soldiers had seemingly become desensitized to virtually all human suffering Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ruthless merciless insensitive callous hard abusive hateful insensate stony harsh oppressive brutal compassionless cruel unfeeling inhuman soulless inhumane heartless remorseless unsympathetic indurate pitiless severe vicious tough affectless malicious unmerciful obdurate grim uncharitable savage stern hard-hearted pachydermatous thoughtless unthinking mean unsparing ironhearted stonyhearted thick-skinned uncaring case-hardened inconsiderate hard-boiled boorish cold-blooded rough stoney slash-and-burn heedless unloving virulent ungentle unfriendly disagreeable bestial take-no-prisoners cold surly jackbooted spiteful barbarous sledgehammer malevolent rancorous brutish heavy-handed hard-bitten acrimonious ironhanded rough-and-tumble ironfisted knock-down, drag-out austere knock-down-and-drag-out ill-natured ill-tempered evil-minded frosty Antonyms & Near Antonyms sensitive sympathetic merciful warm humane compassionate kind mild charitable gentle kindly kindhearted benevolent lenient tender indulgent tenderhearted tolerant softhearted warmhearted understanding friendly benignant loving gracious affectionate cordial fond clement good-natured good-tempered See More
随便看	preignitions preimaginal preimagine preimplantation preinaugural preincarnate preinclined preincorporation preincorporations preindicate preinduction preinductions preindustrial preinfective preinform preinstall preinstallation preinstalled preinstalling preinstalls preinsula preinterview preinterviewed preinterviewing preinterviews

desensitize

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

transitive verb

adjective