unsensitive

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ʌnˈsɛnsətɪv/ UK /ʌnˈsɛnsətɪv/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
lacking sensitivity; insensitive

His unsensitive remarks wounded the grieving family.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking sensitivity;... insensitive unfeeling callous unresponsivethick-skinned

Opposites

sensitive responsive sympathetic tender

Word family

Related forms sensitive insensitive sense sensitivity

Etymology

From un- ('not') + sensitive, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus ('feeling, sense'), past participle of sentire ('to feel').

un- Old English sentire Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# unsensitive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ʌnˈsɛnsətɪv
**IPA (UK):** ʌnˈsɛnsətɪv

## Meanings
1. lacking sensitivity; insensitive

## Examples
- His unsensitive remarks wounded the grieving family.

## Synonyms
- insensitive
- unfeeling
- callous
- unresponsive
- thick-skinned

## Antonyms
- sensitive
- responsive
- sympathetic
- tender

## Related Forms
- sensitive
- insensitive
- sense
- sensitivity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: sentire

## Etymology
From un- ('not') + sensitive, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus ('feeling, sense'), past participle of sentire ('to feel').

## AI Etymology
Unsensitive comes from un- ('not') + sensitive, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus ('feeling, sense'), past participle of sentire ('to feel'). In current use it is an adjective meaning "lacking sensitivity; insensitive". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The prefix un- is negative or privative, marking the absence, denial, or opposite of the base idea. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The historical chain includes Old English un- and Latin sentire. Related English forms include sensitive, insensitive, sense, and sensitivity. As a result, the modern word is best read as a negative, privative, or reversative formation built on a historically older base.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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unsensitive

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