Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Physically hardened: Having an area of thickened and hardened skin, typically caused by repeated friction or pressure.
   • Emotionally hardened: Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others; unfeeling.

2. Verb:

   • To make callous: To cause someone or something to become insensitive, hardened, or unfeeling, either physically or emotionally.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Physical):

  • Years of manual labor had given him callous hands.
  • She had a callous on her heel from her new shoes.

• Adjective (Emotional):

  • His callous remarks about the victims shocked everyone.
  • The dictator was callous to the suffering of his people.

• Verb:

  • A life of hardship can callous a person's heart.
  • The constant exposure to violence calloused his emotions.

Advanced Usage

• "callous disregard": A phrase indicating a complete and insensitive lack of concern.

  • The company showed a callous disregard for the safety of its workers.

• "callous indifference": A state of being unconcerned and unfeeling.

  • Her callous indifference to her friend's problems ended their friendship.

Variants and Related Words

• Callously (adverb): In a callous manner.

  • He callously ignored their pleas for help.

• Callousness (noun): The quality of being callous.

  • The callousness of the crime left the community in shock.

• Calloused (adjective): Alternative form, especially for the physical meaning.

  • His calloused fingers were evidence of his guitar practice.

Synonyms

• Adjective (Emotional): Heartless, unfeeling, insensitive, hard-hearted, cold-blooded.
• Adjective (Physical): Hardened, thickened, toughened.
• Verb: Harden, desensitize, toughen, deaden.

Antonyms

• Adjective (Emotional): Compassionate, sensitive, kind, sympathetic.
• Adjective (Physical): Soft, tender, smooth.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A callous attitude": A general manner of being unfeeling.

  • He developed a callous attitude after years of working in the emergency room.

• "To grow callous": To become hardened over time.

  • One can grow callous to constant criticism.

Adjective

1. having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear
   • calloused skin
   • with a workman's callous hands
2. emotionally hardened
   • a callous indifference to suffering
   • cold-blooded and indurate to public opinion

Verb

1. make insensitive or callous; deaden feelings or morals