English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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adj

callous

KA-luhs
adj
1
Showing no concern for the feelings or suffering of others.
"His callous remark about the accident shocked everyone in the room."
"Years in the job had made her callous to other people's complaints."
2
Having thickened, hardened skin.
"His hands were callous from decades of manual labor."

How to Use Callous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEmotionally cold and unfeeling toward others — or, less commonly, having tough, hardened skin.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "callus," the noun for a patch of hardened skin.

Easily confused with
callus
Common pairings
callous disregard a callous remark callous indifference

Word Forms

more callous comparative, most callous superlative

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His _____ remark about the accident shocked everyone in the room.

Etymology

From Latin callosus ("thick-skinned"), from callum ("hardened skin").

Rhymes for callous

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial