callous
[ kal-uhs ]
adjective
made hard; hardened.
insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic: They have a callous attitude toward the sufferings of others.
having a callus; indurated, as parts of the skin exposed to friction.
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become hard or callous.
Origin of callous
1First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Latin callōsus “hard-skinned, tough,” equivalent to call(um) “tough skin, any hard substance” + -ōsus -ous
synonym study For callous
2. See hard.
Other words for callous
Opposites for callous
Other words from callous
- cal·lous·ly, adverb
- cal·lous·ness, noun
- un·cal·lous, adjective
- un·cal·lous·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with callous
- callous , callus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for callous
callous
/ (ˈkæləs) /
adjective
unfeeling; insensitive
(of skin) hardened and thickened
verb
pathol to make or become callous
Origin of callous
1C16: from Latin callōsus; see callus
Derived forms of callous
- callously, adverb
- callousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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