desensitize
verb
de·sen·si·tize
| \ (ˌ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz
\
\
desensitized;
desensitizing;
desensitizes
Definition of desensitize
1
: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent
2
: to make emotionally insensitive or callous
specifically
: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it
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Other Words from desensitize
desensitization
\ (ˌ)dē-ˌsen(t)-sə-tə-ˈzā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
desensitizer
\ (ˌ)dē-ˈsen-sə-ˌtī-zər
\
noun
\
noun
Examples of desensitize in a Sentence
The shot will help to desensitize the nerve.
Recent Examples on the Web
The danger for me was always becoming desensitized to that. — Laura Barcella, Longreads, "‘Horror Is a Soothing Genre … It’s Upfront About How Scary It Is To Be a Woman.’," 14 Aug. 2019 Meanwhile, in retirement from politics, Lieberman continues to say video games can desensitize some people to violence. — Lisa Marie Segarra, Fortune, "Joe Lieberman Famously Blamed Video Games for Violence. Now Guns and the Internet Worry Him Even More," 10 Aug. 2019 Running out various scenarios might be helpful, to desensitize you to the possibility of encountering your ex. — Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, "Woman fears running into her hometown abuser," 29 July 2019 Running out various scenarios might be helpful, to desensitize you to the possibility of encountering your ex. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: Woman fears running into her hometown abuser," 29 July 2019 Running out various scenarios might be helpful, to desensitize you to the possibility of encountering your ex. — Ask Amy, oregonlive.com, "Ask Amy: Website unearths half-sibling, a secret their parents took to the grave," 29 July 2019 Running out various scenarios might be helpful, to desensitize you to the possibility of encountering your ex. — Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, "Ask Amy: Should I reveal the secret my parents took to their graves?," 29 July 2019 Meth users also may be desensitized to pain, Price said, so using a Taser may not affect them. — Alexis Stevens, The Seattle Times, "Georgia tallies meth’s toll: Nearly 20 percent of those killed by police in state test positive for it," 20 Nov. 2018 People seemed to cope in one of two ways: turning away from the problem or overthinking it and becoming desensitized. — Jerod Macdonald-evoy, azcentral, "Every teen suicide is a tragedy, here's what Arizona is doing to prevent more," 8 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desensitize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for desensitize
desensitize
verb
English Language Learners Definition of desensitize
: to cause (someone or something) to react less to or be less affected by something : to cause (someone or something) to be less sensitive
See the full definition for desensitize in the English Language Learners Dictionary
desensitize
transitive verb
de·sen·si·tize
variants:
also British desensitise \ (ˈ)dē-ˈsen(t)-sə-ˌtīz
\
\
desensitized
also British desensitised;
desensitizing
also British desensitising
Medical Definition of desensitize
: to make less sensitive : reduce sensitivity in
desensitize a nerve with a local anesthetic
: as
a
: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent
b
: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli which formerly induced it : make emotionally insensitive
evidence that violence on television desensitizes children to actual violence— Stephanie Harrington
c
: to decrease a response (as of a cell receptor) progressively following prolonged exposure to a stimulus
formation of cAMP was reduced significantly in desensitized cells and remained low in the continuous presence of agonist— S. M. Nilius et al
Other Words from desensitize
desensitization
also British desensitisation \ (ˌ)dē-ˌsen-sət-ə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌsen-stə-ˈzā-
\
noun
\
noun