callous Hear it!

callous Definition

cal·lous (kal′əs)

adjective

    1. having calluses
    2. thick and hardened
  2. lacking pity, mercy, etc.; unfeeling

Etymology: ME < L callosus < callum, hard skin

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to make or become callous

noun

callus (sense )

callous Related Forms
cal′·lously adverb cal′·lous·ness noun
callous Synonyms

callous

modif.

unfeeling, insensitive, inured, hardened, unsusceptible, uncaring, unaffected by, hard, insensible, stubborn, stiff, unbending, indurated, obdurate, insentient, insensate, inflexible, cold, coldhearted, hardhearted, unresponsive, unconcerned, impassive, apathetic, heartless, coldblooded, impenitent, unsympathetic, soulless, spiritless, toughened, blind to, deaf to, unimpressionable, tough*, hard-boiled*, thick-skinned*, case-hardened*, hard as nails*; see also cruel 2, indifferent 1.

Antonyms concerned, compassionate, sensitive.

callous Usage Examples

Object

  • hand: The rough, calloused, human hand picked her up.
  • skin: Was £ 13.99 Add to basket Pumice Stone click here A natural way to smooth over dry and calloused skin.
  • foot: For dry and/or calloused feet, apply Vaseline and then put socks on overnight while sleeping.

Modifying Another Word

  • so: I wasn't usually so callous in putting flying saucers before family, but this was an exceptional case!
  • rather: Making it much more difficult to retire on grounds of ill-health was a rather callous way of dealing with part of the problem.
  • particularly: That was a particularly callous act, which left her left hand painful and badly bruised.
  • very: This is very callous, but it is the law at the moment.
  • too: You feel you're too calloused to recapture your 1st love.
  • even: Yet as the reality of Fenton's condition becomes clearer, he exhibits his own more mercenary, even callous, streak.

Modifies a noun

  • disregard: They certainly carry the same tone of callous disregard for innocent lives.
  • indifference: Yes, but it is not the silence of callous indifference or helpless weakness.
  • thief: Danni's new bed leaves Cheryl feeling bemused, and Ramsay Street is plagued by a callous thief.
  • murder: Just a few days ago, Fred Shipman was sentenced to life imprisonment for the callous murder of fifteen patients.
  • attitude: In face of this callous attitude of the Shipping Company the Gospel of Christ would sound sheer mockery to my countrymen.
  • act: Few can imagine such apparent nonchalance from people who know they are shortly about to die, let alone undertake such a callous act.

Used with adjective complement

  • sound: I know it sounds callous - and that there's more to life than work - but we really need the money.
  • seem: Libertarianism seems to dissolve to an unworldly atomism, and seems far too callous about real human pain.
  • grow: The wounded are getting to be common, and people grow callous.
  • become: The symbolism of his death made people aware that their society had become callous, irresponsible and selfish.
  • appear: Just occasionally, he could even appear extraordinarily callous.