desensitise

Main Entry: de·sen·si·tize
Variant: also British de·sen·si·tise /(')dE-'sen(t)-s&-"tIz/
Function: transitiveverb
Inflected Forms: -tized also British -tised; -tiz·ing also British -tis·ing
1 : to make (a sensitized orhypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent
2 : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli which formerlyinduced it : make emotionally insensitive desensitizes children to actual violence —Stephanie Harrington> —de·sen·si·ti·za·tion also British de·sen·si·ti·sa·tion /(")dE-"sen-s&t-&-'zA-sh&n,-"sen-st&-'zA-/ noun

desensitize de·sen·si·tize (dē-sěn'sĭ-tīz')
v. de·sen·si·tized, de·sen·si·tiz·ing, de·sen·si·tiz·es

1. To render insensitive or less sensitive, as a nerve or tooth.

2. To make an individual nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen.

3. To make a person emotionally insensitive or unresponsive, as by long exposure or repeated shocks.