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sen·si·tive
 sensitive
- pronunciation:
- sen
s
tihv
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
having the ability to sense.
The leaves of the plant are sensitive to touch.- synonyms:
- feeling, sensible, sentient
- antonyms:
- insensible, insensitive, numb, unfeeling
- similar words:
- aware, conscious, keen, perceptive
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| definition 2: |
very responsive to and affected by sense impressions.
Dogs are highly sensitive to pitch.Humans are sensitive to color, and advertisers know that color can affect people's opinions of a product.- antonyms:
- impassive, impervious, unresponsive
- similar words:
- acute, delicate, feeling, irritable, painful, perceptive, reactive, responsive, sore, tender
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| definition 3: |
acutely responsive mentally or emotionally.
For a sensitive child, changing schools is difficult.- synonyms:
- feeling, susceptible
- antonyms:
- stolid, thick-skinned, unsensitive
- similar words:
- delicate, emotional, excitable, huffy, hypersensitive, impressionable, perceptive, reactive, receptive, responsive, susceptive, temperamental, tender-hearted, thin-skinned, touchy
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| definition 4: |
very responsive to certain stimuli such as chemicals or other environmental agents.
This soap is made for sensitive skin.While you're taking this medication, your skin will be highly sensitive to sunlight.- synonyms:
- susceptible, susceptive
- antonyms:
- impervious, nonreactive, unsusceptible
- similar words:
- allergic, hypersensitive, irritable, reactive, responsive
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| definition 5: |
involving something that is secret or needs care in handling.
Abortion is a sensitive subject.- synonyms:
- delicate, ticklish, touchy
- antonyms:
- uncontroversial
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| definition 6: |
of certain instruments, responsive to extremely small changes in heat, light, or the like.
We use a sensitive thermometer for our temperature measurements.- similar words:
- accurate, delicate, discriminating, fine, precise, receptive, responsive, subtle
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| definition 7: |
characterized by concern for the feelings of others.
She responded to his problem in a sensitive manner.- antonyms:
- callous, hardhearted, insensitive, unfeeling
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| related words: |
artistic, considerate, discreet, emotional, fastidious, irritable, nervous, queasy, sensible, ticklish, vulnerable, waspish |
| derivations: |
sensitively (adv.), sensitiveness (n.) |
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