Definition

1. Noun:
   • Emotional insensitivity or hardness: The state or quality of being callous; a lack of sympathy, concern, or feeling for others, often resulting from indifference or repeated exposure to suffering.
   • Hardheartedness: A specific type of unfeeling or cruel indifference.

Usage

• Callousness is an uncountable noun used to describe a person's character or an observed attitude/behavior.
• It is typically used in formal or serious contexts to criticize a profound lack of empathy.
• Common collocations include: .

Examples

• The manager's callousness towards his employees' struggles led to low morale.
• I was shocked by the callousness of his remarks about the victims.
• Her callousness in ignoring the homeless person's plea was disheartening.

Advanced Usage

• "with callousness": Describes the manner in which an action is performed.
  • He dismissed the complaints with shocking callousness.
• "the callousness of": Used to attribute the quality to a specific person, group, or action.
  • The report highlighted the callousness of the bureaucratic system.

Variants and Related Words

• Callous (adj): Emotionally hardened; unfeeling.
  • He was callous about the consequences of his actions.
• Callously (adv): In a callous manner.
  • She callously ignored their cries for help.

Synonyms

• Hardheartedness: Lack of pity or compassion.
• Insensitivity: Lack of awareness or concern for others' feelings.
• Indifference: Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.
• Unfeelingness: Absence of tender feelings.

Antonyms

• Compassion: Sympathetic concern for the sufferings of others.
• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
• Sensitivity: Quickness to detect or respond to slight changes or others' feelings.
• Kindness: The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Idioms and Phrases

• A callous disregard for: A phrase emphasizing a complete and unfeeling lack of consideration.
  • The policy showed a callous disregard for the most vulnerable citizens.

Noun

1. devoid of passion or feeling; hardheartedness