callous
Americanadjective
-
made hard; hardened.
- Synonyms:
- hard
- Antonyms:
- soft
-
insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic.
They have a callous attitude toward the sufferings of others.
- Synonyms:
- obtuse, insensible
- Antonyms:
- sensitive
-
having a callus; indurated, as parts of the skin exposed to friction.
verb (used with or without object)
adjective
-
unfeeling; insensitive
-
(of skin) hardened and thickened
verb
Related Words
See hard.
Other Word Forms
- callously adverb
- callousness noun
- uncallous adjective
- uncallously adverb
Etymology
Origin of callous
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Latin callōsus “hard-skinned, tough,” equivalent to call(um) “tough skin, any hard substance” + -ōsus -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her calloused thumbs rubbed the tears off Jason’s cheeks.
From Literature
"I know it sounds very callous, but boxers are self-employed," Smith adds.
From BBC
He added: "Grieving families will be furious that someone in such a senior position even thought of saying something so callous and offensive."
From BBC
“The victims of the suspect Central officers took into custody will be impacted by his callous acts for a very long time,” Muniz said.
From Los Angeles Times
As clichéd as it may seem, we need love to recognize our common humanity — and to transform the callous hearts and minds of many in the halls of power where decisions on policy are made.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
