callous

Pronunciation: adjective. Synonyms: cruel, hard-bitten, ruthless

adjective

Difficulty: intermediate

Definition of callous

Emotionally hardened or indifferent to the feelings and suffering of others; showing a cruel disregard for others.

Origin of callous

Language of origin: Latin

Root word: callosus

Original meaning: thick-skinned, hardened

How it evolved: Originally used to describe hardened physical surfaces, the term's meaning expanded metaphorically to refer to emotional insensitivity.

Derived from Latin and Old French, the word originally referred to physical hardness before evolving to describe emotional insensitivity.

First known use: 15th century

How to Remember callous

Think of 'callous' as tough, like a 'callus' on your hands—just as a callus is hard and unfeeling, so is a callous person emotionally.

Synonyms for callous

  • insensitive
  • unsympathetic
  • apathetic
  • unfeeling
  • cold-hearted
  • harsh
  • merciless
  • pitiless

Antonyms of callous

  • compassionate
  • sympathetic
  • sensitive
  • tenderhearted
  • kind

callous in a Sentence

  1. The callous executive dismissed the workers' concerns about safety as trivial and unnecessary.
  2. Her callous remarks about the disaster revealed an astonishing lack of empathy.
  3. Years of hardship had rendered him callous to the suffering of others, though he was not inherently unkind.

callous in Literature & Culture

In literature and popular culture, 'callous' is often used to critique individuals in positions of power who ignore the suffering of others, such as in Charles Dickens' depictions of industrialists and bureaucrats.

Usage Notes

The word 'callous' often carries a negative connotation, implying deliberate disregard for others' emotions. It is distinct from 'apathetic,' which more strongly suggests a lack of interest rather than active disregard.

Why callous Matters for GRE & SAT

This word often appears in reading comprehension passages and text completion questions, testing a student's ability to understand nuanced emotional states or character descriptions.

Word Family

callousness (noun)
A lack of empathy or concern for others' feelings.
callously (adverb)
In a manner that shows an insensitive or uncaring attitude.

Did You Know?

  • The word 'callous' is etymologically related to 'callus,' the thickened skin formed from repeated friction or pressure.
  • In literature, characters described as 'callous' are often antagonists or emotionally detached figures, used to heighten dramatic tension.
  • The metaphorical use of 'callous' to describe emotional insensitivity dates back to the 17th century.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with C

  • cacophonous — extremely noisy; grating
  • cacophonous — extremely noisy; grating
  • cajole — persuade through flattery or gentle urging
  • cajole — persuade through flattery or gentle urging
  • callous — emotionally unfeeling or insensitive
  • callow — young and inexperienced; immature
  • callow — young and inexperienced; immature
  • calumny — slander and defamation
  • calumny — slander and defamation
  • candid — Truthful and straightforward; frank