Meaning of "callous" in English

The word "callous" refers to someone who is emotionally hardened, insensitive, or indifferent to the feelings and problems of others. It describes a lack of empathy or compassion, often resulting in unfeeling behavior or attitudes. It can also denote physical hardening, as with calluses on the skin due to friction or pressure. In contexts relating to personality, it suggests a cruel absence of consideration for others' pain or suffering and is often used to describe actions or characters marked by this insensitivity.

Meaning of "insensible" in French

In French, "insensible" means devoid of feeling or sensitivity, both emotionally and physically. It characterizes someone who does not react emotionally to situations that typically evoke sympathy or compassion. The term captures a range of insensitivity—from emotional detachment to the physical absence of sensation. Like its English counterpart, it often conveys a lack of empathy, portraying an individual as indifferent to the joys, woes, or needs of others.

Pronunciation of "callous" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈkæl.əs/

Pronunciation Variations: In American English, the pronunciation remains consistent, whereas in some British accents, slight variations in intonation may occur, with a more pronounced variation on the first syllable.

Pronunciation of "insensible" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /ɛ̃.sɑ̃.si.blə/

Pronunciation Variations: French pronunciation is generally standard across France, but regional variations may arise, with some speakers in Quebec employing a slightly different vowel sound.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. His callous remarks about the accident shocked everyone. (Ses remarques insensibles au sujet de l'accident ont choqué tout le monde.)

  2. She acted with a callous disregard for his feelings. (Elle a agi avec une indifférence insensible envers ses sentiments.)

  3. The callous leader ignored the needs of the poor. (Le leader insensible a ignoré les besoins des pauvres.)

  4. The company made a callous decision to cut jobs. (L'entreprise a pris une décision insensible de supprimer des emplois.)

  5. His callous joke made the entire room uncomfortable. (Sa blague insensible a mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.)

  6. They were accused of having a callous attitude toward the environment. (Ils ont été accusés d'avoir une attitude insensible envers l'environnement.)

  7. Her callousness in the face of tragedy was bewildering. (Son insensibilité face à la tragédie était déroutante.)

  8. He showed a callousness that was surprisingly cold. (Il a montré une insensibilité étonnamment froide.)

  9. The callous treatment of animals sparked outrage. (Le traitement insensible des animaux a suscité l'indignation.)

  10. Her callous demeanor made it difficult to approach her. (Son comportement insensible rendait difficile l'approche.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "callous" in English

Synonyms: heartless, unfeeling, cold, indifferent, unsympathetic, insensitive, cruel, hard-hearted, harsh, uncaring.

Antonyms: compassionate, sensitive, caring, empathetic, kind, tender, warm-hearted, gentle, considerate, sympathetic.

Similar Words: stoic, unemotional, detached, apathetic, aloof, unmoved, uninvolved, hardened, toughened, impervious.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "insensible" in French

Synonyms: indifférent, insouciant, apathique, détaché, inerte, impassible, insensitif, froid, désintéressé, dur.

Antonyms: sensible, empathique, affectueux, attentionné, compatissant, chaleureux, tendre, prévenant, attentionné, sympathique.

Similar Words: apathique, stoïque, indolore, insouciant, inconscient, anesthésié, non-réactif, détaché, indifférent, inerte.

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