Wordfinder

Callous definition

kăləs
See word origin
Frequency:
Emotionally hardened; unfeeling.

A callous indifference to the suffering of others.

adjective
18
1
Having calluses; toughened.

Callous skin on the elbow.

adjective
8
2
noun
4
0
To make or become callous.
verb
6
3
Thick and hardened.
adjective
1
0
Advertisement
Having calluses; toughened.

Callous skin on the elbow.

adjective
1
0
To make or become callous.
verb
1
0
Callous is defined as cruel or insensitive.

If you laugh at someone who is hurting and don't offer to help, this is an example of when you are callous; a callous laugh.

adjective
1
1
Having calluses.
adjective
0
0

She was so callous that she could criticise a cancer patient for wearing a wig.

adjective
0
0
Advertisement
Having calluses.
adjective
0
0
Lacking, or showing a lack of, pity, mercy, etc.; unfeeling.
adjective
0
1
To make or become callous.
verb
0
1

Origin of callous

  • Middle English from Old French cailleux from Latin callōsus from callum hard skin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin callōsus (“hard-skinned”), from callum (“hardened skin”) + -ōsus.

    From Wiktionary

Callous Sentence Examples

  • The man who stole from the poor was a callous thief.

  • Kiera looked at Evelyn, astonished by her callous words.

  • Stealing the coats was a callous act.

  • That was a particularly callous act, which left her left hand painful and badly bruised.

  • There was nothing heroic about Cecil or his policy; it involved a callous attitude towards struggling Protestants abroad.

More sentences

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near callous in the Dictionary