desensitise

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A form of desensitize — To render (someone) emotionally or sensationally less responsive or irresponsive, as by long or repeated exposure to something.

Similar
desensitize
Opposite
sensitise
OriginEnglish sensitise ← Latin dē- ← Proto-Italic *dē →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

verbdesensitise (third-person singular simple present desensitises, present participle desensitising, simple past and past participle desensitised)

present singular third person desensitises · participle present desensitising · participle past desensitised · past desensitised

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of desensitize.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbcause not to be sensitive

Similar
desensitize
Opposite
sensitise
Broader
changealtermodify

verbmake insensitive

Similar
desensitize
Broader
changealtermodify
Also see
desensitize

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*de
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
  3. Proto-Italic*dē
  4. Latindē
  5. Latindē-
  6. Englishde-
  7. Englishsensitise
  8. Englishdesensitise

From de- + sensitise.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

desensitise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitise

MLA

“desensitise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitise. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “desensitise,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitise.

Source: desensitise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.