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Desensitized: meaning, definitions and examples

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desensitized

 

[ diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪzd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

emotional

Having become less sensitive to a particular stimulus over time, especially as a result of repeated exposure.

Synonyms

insensitive, numb, unresponsive

Examples of usage

  • The constant exposure to violence in the media has desensitized many people to real-life tragedies.
  • She has become desensitized to the criticism after hearing it so often.
Context #2 | Verb

medical

To make someone less likely to react to a substance, especially an allergen.

Synonyms

immunize, protect, vaccinate

Examples of usage

  • The doctor desensitized the patient to the allergen by gradually exposing them to small amounts of it.

Translations

Translations of the word "desensitized" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dessensibilizado

🇮🇳 असंवेदनशील

🇩🇪 desensibilisiert

🇮🇩 desensitisasi

🇺🇦 десенсибілізований

🇵🇱 znieczulony

🇯🇵 脱感作された

🇫🇷 désensibilisé

🇪🇸 desensibilizado

🇹🇷 duyarsızlaşmış

🇰🇷 무감각하게 된

🇸🇦 مُخفف الحساسية

🇨🇿 desensibilizovaný

🇸🇰 desenzibilizovaný

🇨🇳 脱敏的

🇸🇮 desenzibiliziran

🇮🇸 dæmda

🇰🇿 сезімталдығынан айрылған

🇬🇪 დეზენსიბილიზებული

🇦🇿 desensibilizasiya olunmuş

🇲🇽 desensibilizado

Etymology

The word 'desensitized' is derived from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'remove' or 'do the opposite of' and the word 'sensitize', which comes from the Latin word 'sensibilis' meaning 'capable of sensation'. The concept of desensitization has been studied in psychology, medicine, and various other fields to understand how repeated exposure can lead to decreased sensitivity or response.

See also: hypersensitivity, insensibility, insensible, insensitive, nonsense, nonsensical, nonsensically, sensation, sensational, sensations, sense, senseless, senselessly, sensibility, sensible, sensibly, sensitive, sensitivity, sensor, sensory, sensual, sensuous.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,089 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.