calloused

Thân thiện

His calloused hands gripped the wooden handle of the shovel firmly.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear or friction: Describes skin, especially on hands or feet, that has become hardened and thickened, typically as a result of repeated physical work, pressure, or use. 2. (Figuratively) Hardened or insensitive: Used to describe a person's attitude or emotions that have become unfeeling or indifferent, often due to repeated exposure to difficult situations. (Note: This meaning is more commonly expressed by the related adjective "callous." "Calloused" is primarily used for physical skin, but the figurative sense is understood.)

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Physical):

  • His calloused hands told the story of a lifetime spent farming.
  • The guitarist's fingertips were calloused from years of practice.
  • She had calloused skin on her heels from her new running shoes.

• Adjective (Figurative):

  • After years as an emergency room doctor, he had developed a calloused demeanor to cope with the daily trauma. (Note: "callous demeanor" is more standard, but "calloused" is sometimes used this way by association.)

Advanced Usage

• "To become calloused": A phrase describing the process of skin hardening.
  • Her palms became calloused after a week of digging in the garden.
• "Calloused against something": Used figuratively to describe becoming emotionally hardened or resistant to something.
  • He had grown calloused against the criticisms of his opponents.

Variants and Related Words

• Callus (noun): The area of thickened and hardened skin itself.
  • He had a large callus on his thumb from writing.
• Callous (adjective): Primarily used for the figurative meaning—showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
  • His callous remarks hurt her feelings.
• Callosity (noun): A technical or medical term for a callus.

Synonyms

• (For skin): Hardened, thickened, toughened, leathery.
• (Figurative): Unfeeling, insensitive, hardened, indurated (formal).

Antonyms

• (For skin): Soft, tender, smooth, delicate.
• (Figurative): Sensitive, compassionate, tender, sympathetic.

Related Phrases

• "Work-roughened/calloused hands": A common phrase describing hands marked by physical labor.
  • He shook my hand with his work-calloused hands.
• "To grow a thick skin": An idiom meaning to become less sensitive to criticism or insult (related to the figurative sense).
  • In this business, you need to grow a thick skin.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear
   • calloused skin
   • with a workman's callous hands

Từ đồng nghĩa

• callous
• thickened