different between heartless vs insensitive

English

Etymology

From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortl?as (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart +? -less.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h??t.l?s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??t.l?s/
• Hyphenation: heart?less

Adjective

heartless (comparative more heartless, superlative most heartless)

1. (obsolete) Without courage; fearful, cowardly. [10th–19th c.]
   • 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.7:

     Cecilia then, though almost heartless, resolved upon talking with Mr. Harrel himself […].

2. (now rare) Listless, unenthusiastic. [from 14th c.]
3. Without a physical heart. [from 15th c.]
4. Without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring. [from 16th c.]

   His heartless actions and cold manner left her saddened and feeling alone.

Derived terms

• heartlessly
• heartlessness

Translations

Anagrams

• Earthless, earthless, hartlesse, shearlets

English

Etymology

in- +? sensitive

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?s?ns?t?v/

Adjective

insensitive (comparative more insensitive, superlative most insensitive)

1. Expressing or feeling little or no concern, care, compassion, or consideration for the feelings, emotions, sentiments, or concerns of other people; inconsiderate or incompassionate
2. Not expressing normal physical feeling;
   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula

     It is something like the way dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm by contact.

3. Not expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic
   • 1895, Grant Allen, The British Barbarians

     Somehow, when Bertram Ingledew let it once be felt he did not wish to be questioned on any particular point, even women managed to restrain their curiosity: and he would have been either a very bold or a very insensitive man who would have ventured to continue questioning him any further.

   • 1994, Jann Arden, "Insensitive" (song)

     Oh I really should have known by the time you drove me home, / By the vagueness in your eyes, your casual good-byes, / By the chill in your embrace and the expression on your face, / That told me you might have some advice to give / On how to be insensitive.

Synonyms

• unaffected
• unsensitive

Antonyms

• sensitive

Derived terms

Translations