desensitization

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noun

The act or process of desensitizing, of reducing or eliminating sensitivity.

Similar
desensitisation
OriginEnglish sensitization ← Latin dē- ← Proto-Italic *dē →
UncommonScrabble 25
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Meanings

noundesensitization (countable and uncountable, plural desensitizations)

plural desensitizations · alternative desensitisation

  1. countableuncountableThe act or process of desensitizing, of reducing or eliminating sensitivity.

    Furthermore, the desensitization steps should be incremental so that the animal experiences little or no fear response during the sessions.

    2015, Ilona Rodan, Sarah Heath, editors, Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 43

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe process of reducing sensitivity

Similar
desensitisation
Broader
decreasedecrement
Also see
desensitisation

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. Englishsensitive
  8. Englishsensitize
  9. Englishsensitization
  10. Englishdesensitization

From de- + sensitization.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan insensibilització
  • insensibilitzacióthe act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
German Desensibilisierung
  • Desensibilisierungthe act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
Greek απευαισθητοποίηση
  • απευαισθητοποίηση (apevaisthitopoíisi)the act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
Russian сниже́ние чувствительности, поте́ря чувствительности
  • сниже́ние чувствительности (snižénije čuvstvitelʹnosti)the act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
  • поте́ря чувствительности (potérja čuvstvitelʹnosti)the act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
  • десенсибилизация (desensibilizacija)the act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
Spanish insensibilización
  • insensibilizaciónthe act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
Swedish avtrubbning
  • avtrubbningthe act or process of desensitizing, of dulling or reducing sensation
Cite this entry
APA

desensitization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitization

MLA

“desensitization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitization. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “desensitization,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desensitization.

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