Learning / English Dictionary

INSENSITIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not responsive to physical stimuli

Example:

insensitive to radiation

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

dead; deadened (devoid of physical sensation; numb)

unreactive (not tending to react to stimulation)

Also:

unresponsive (not responding to some influence or stimulus)

insensible (incapable of physical sensation)

insusceptible; unsusceptible (not susceptible to)

Attribute:

sensitiveness; sensitivity (the ability to respond to physical stimuli or to register small physical amounts or differences)

Antonym:

sensitive (responsive to physical stimuli)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deficient in human sensibility; not mentally or morally sensitive

Example:

insensitive to the needs of the patients

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

thick-skinned; tough-skinned (insensitive to criticism)

soulless (lacking sensitivity or the capacity for deep feeling)

insensible; unaffected (unaware of or indifferent to)

callous; indurate; pachydermatous (emotionally hardened)

dead; numb ((followed by 'to') not showing human feeling or sensitivity; unresponsive)

dull (blunted in responsiveness or sensibility)

Also:

tough (not given to gentleness or sentimentality)

insensible (incapable of physical sensation)

unresponsive (not responding to some influence or stimulus)

hard (dispassionate)

Attribute:

sensitiveness; sensitivity (sensitivity to emotional feelings (of self and others))

Antonym:

sensitive (being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others)

Derivation:

insensitiveness; insensitivity (the inability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Radiolabeled amino acid-based agents are useful in PET brain tumor imaging because F-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose (F-18 FDG), commonly used in PET tumor imaging, is relatively insensitive for detecting tumors in the brain due to high levels of glycolytic metabolism in the normal cortex and to a lesser extent in white matter.

(F-18 Fluoroethyltyrosine, NCI Thesaurus)

Radiolabeled amino acid-based agents are useful in PET brain tumor imaging because F-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose (F-18 FDG), commonly used in PET tumor imaging, is relatively insensitive for detecting tumors in the brain due the high levels of glycolytic metabolism in the normal cortex and to a lesser extent in white matter.

(Fluoroethyltyrosine F18, NCI Thesaurus)