callous (ˈkæləs
)
Definitions
adjective
- unfeeling; insensitive
- (of skin) hardened and thickened
verb
- pathology to make or become callous
Alternative Forms
ˈcallously adverb ˈcallousness nounWord Origin
C16: from Latin callōsus; see callusSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
heartless,
cold,
harsh,
hardened,
indifferent,
insensitive,
hard-boiled,
unsympathetic,
uncaring,
soulless,
hard-bitten,
unfeeling,
obdurate,
case-hardened,
affectless,
hardhearted,
indurated,
Usage examples
She wanted to lash out, hit at them, anything to stop the callous brutality of that invasion.
, Dreams of Innocence (1994)While animal testing is inevitable for scientific research, Indian laboratories are callous in the way they inflict pain on animals.
India Today (1997)Justice Doogue described Anderson's offending as "cold-blooded and callous ".
New Zealand Herald (2004)He said for crimes of such a callous nature, "life should mean life".
Belfast Telegraph (2004)It reduces personal relations to self-interest, to the ` callous cash principle".
, Humanism - The Wreck of Western Culture (1993)