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insensible

insensitive

adjective een-sehn-SEE-bleh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Latin insensibilis, 'incapable of feeling'.

Also means

numb

Usage Note

Insensible covers both physical numbness (el frío le dejó los dedos insensibles) and emotional insensitivity (es insensible al dolor ajeno). Be aware of the false-friend risk: English 'insensible' can mean 'unconscious', but Spanish insensible does not normally carry that meaning — use inconsciente or sin conocimiento for that. The antonym is sensible, which itself is a partial false friend (meaning 'sensitive', not 'sensible').

Examples

"Parecía insensible ante el sufrimiento ajeno."

Natural Translation

She seemed insensitive to others' suffering.

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