callous

/ˈkæləs/adjective

Cold and uncaring about other people's pain or feelings.

Example sentences

“It was callous of him to joke about her losing her job.”
“Only a callous person could walk past a crying child without stopping.”

Not to be confused with "callus", the patch of hardened skin. They share a root: a callous person has grown hard skin over their feelings.

Synonyms for callous

heartless
cold
unfeeling
insensitive
uncaring

Antonyms

caring
compassionate
kind

Often confused with callous

callous vs callus

Find it in: Words to describe a person.

Related words

empatheticGood at sensing and sharing other people's feelings; understanding.callowYoung and lacking experience, especially in a way that shows poor judgment.capriciousChanging suddenly and without warning, guided by whim rather than reason.brusqueShort and blunt in manner, to the point of seeming rude.churlishRude and ungracious, especially when refusing to be polite or generous.belligerentHostile and aggressive; eager to argue or fight.