sensitive
English meaning: Sensitive
Definition
Quick to feel or respond to emotions, often deeply.
Example
“He is a sensitive person who cries at sad films.”
Another example: “The negotiations touched on several politically sensitive issues.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An adjective with several senses: emotionally responsive ('a sensitive child'), easily damaged or sore ('sensitive skin'), or requiring careful handling ('a sensitive topic'). Also technical ('a sensitive instrument'). Often followed by 'to' or 'about'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'sensus' meaning 'feeling, perception'.
Synonyms
- responsive
- tender
- perceptive
- delicate
- sensible
- sore
- erogenous
- painful
- touchy
- irritable
- reactive
- nociceptive
Antonyms / Opposites
- insensitive
- unfeeling
- thick-skinned
- callous
Related Words
- sensitivity
- detector
- detect
- infrared
- detection
- skin
- radiation
- measurements
- temperature
- information
- pollution
- noise
Common Collocations
- sensitive skin
- a sensitive issue
- highly sensitive
- sensitive to criticism
- sensitive information
- commercially sensitive
Word Forms
sensitive (adj); sensitively (adv); sensitivity (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B