Insensibility: meaning, definitions and examples

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insensibility

[ɪnˌsɛnsəˈbɪlɪti ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

lack of emotional response

Insensibility refers to the state of being unable to feel or respond emotionally to a situation. It is characterized by a lack of sensitivity or compassion towards others.

Synonyms

apathy, indifference, unfeelingness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
insensibility	Typically used in medical or psychological contexts to describe a lack of physical sensation or emotional response. The patient's insensibility to pain worried the doctors. Her insensibility towards the distress of others was alarming.
unfeelingness	This term is often used in a negative sense to describe a lack of empathy or compassion. The politician's unfeelingness towards the homeless population drew widespread criticism. His unfeelingness was evident when he laughed at the misfortunes of others.
apathy	Used when someone shows a lack of interest or concern about things that others find important or exciting. His apathy towards the election results surprised everyone. She couldn't understand his apathy regarding their future.
indifference	Refers to a state of being neutral or not caring about a particular issue or matter, especially when some level of concern is expected. The board's indifference to employee complaints created a toxic work environment. Her indifference to the outcome was evident.

Examples of usage

He showed complete insensibility to the suffering of others.
Her insensibility to the plight of the homeless was disturbing.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

lack of physical sensation

Insensibility can also refer to the lack of physical sensation or feeling. It is the inability to perceive or experience touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.

Synonyms

anaesthesia, loss of sensation, numbness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
insensibility	Used here in a physical sense, referring to the inability to feel, often due to a medical condition or external factor. Not to be confused with emotional insensibility. After the accident, he experienced insensibility in his legs. The insensibility in her fingers made it difficult to grasp objects.
numbness	Commonly used to describe a temporary or permanent state where a part of the body has lost feeling. It can be due to various reasons such as cold, pressure, or nerve damage. Holding the ice for too long caused numbness in her fingers. After sitting in the same position for hours, he felt numbness in his legs.
loss of sensation	This is a straightforward and descriptive way to indicate that a person can no longer feel in a particular area of the body. It can be used in both medical and everyday contexts. She felt a loss of sensation in her toes after the hike. The injury resulted in a temporary loss of sensation in his arm.
anaesthesia	Typically used in a medical context to describe a state where sensation, especially pain, is temporarily blocked or reduced. It usually refers to a deliberate and controlled medical procedure. The patient was given anaesthesia before the surgery. Local anaesthesia was used for the dental procedure.

Examples of usage

The insensibility in his fingers was a result of frostbite.
The patient's insensibility to pain was a concern for the doctors.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'insensibilis', meaning 'not able to feel or perceive'.
It's composed of the prefix 'in-' (not) and 'sensibility' from 'sensus' in Latin, meaning feeling or perception.

Psychology

Insensibility can be linked to psychological conditions where one may detach from reality or not feel emotions due to trauma.
In psychology, some practices encourage recognizing feelings to combat emotional insensibility.

Medical Terminology

Medically, insensibility can refer to a loss of sensation in a part of the body, often due to nerve damage.
Anesthetics are used to induce a state of insensibility during surgical procedures, preventing pain.

Literature

In literature, characters exhibiting insensibility might represent deep emotional struggles or critiques of societal norms.
Classic novels often depict insensibility as a way to highlight the contrast between emotion and reason.

Pop Culture

Songs and movies often explore themes of emotional insensibility, portraying characters who struggle to connect with others.
In some popular narratives, protagonists overcoming their insensitivity lead to powerful moments of growth and emotional clarity.

Translations

Translations of the word "insensibility" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insensibilidade

🇮🇳 संवेदनहीनता

🇩🇪 Gefühllosigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakpekaan

🇺🇦 нечутливість

🇵🇱 nieczułość

🇯🇵 無感覚 (むかんかく)

🇫🇷 insensibilité

🇪🇸 insensibilidad

🇹🇷 duyarsızlık

🇰🇷 무감각 (mugamgak)

🇸🇦 عدم الإحساس

🇨🇿 necitelnost

🇸🇰 neciteľnosť

🇨🇳 无感觉 (wú gǎnjué)

🇸🇮 neobčutljivost

🇮🇸 tilfinningaleysi

🇰🇿 сезімсіздік

🇬🇪 უგრძნობლობა

🇦🇿 hissizlik

🇲🇽 insensibilidad

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,045, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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