thick-skinned
/'θik'skind/
Definition
Adjective: 1. Insensitive to criticism or insults: Describes a person who is not easily upset, offended, or emotionally hurt by negative comments, disapproval, or harsh treatment from others. 2. Having a thick skin (literal): Having skin that is physically thick. (This is the less common, literal meaning.)
Usage
The adjective "thick-skinned" is used to describe a person's character or emotional resilience. It is typically used in a neutral or slightly positive sense when referring to the ability to handle pressure or negativity, though it can sometimes imply a lack of sensitivity or receptiveness to valid feedback.
Examples
- As a character trait:
- Politicians need to be thick-skinned to handle constant public scrutiny.
- As a teacher, she became thick-skinned to the occasional rude remark from students.
- You have to be thick-skinned to work in customer service for a complaint department.
Advanced Usage
- Comparative and Superlative Forms: "thick-skinned" (base), "more thick-skinned" (comparative), "most thick-skinned" (superlative).
- After years as a critic, he became more thick-skinned.
- Used with linking verbs: Commonly follows verbs like , , .
- He is remarkably thick-skinned.
Variants and Related Words
- Thick skin (noun phrase): The quality of being thick-skinned.
- Success in this industry requires a thick skin.
- Thin-skinned (adjective): The direct antonym; meaning easily upset or offended by criticism.
- He is too thin-skinned to read the online comments about his work.
Synonyms
- Insensitive (to criticism)
- Hardened
- Unflappable
- Imperturbable
- Stoic
Antonyms
- Thin-skinned
- Sensitive
- Touchy
- Vulnerable
Idioms and Phrases
- To have a thick skin: This is the idiomatic noun-phrase version of the adjective "thick-skinned."
- To be a successful comedian, you really have to have a thick skin.
Adjective
-
insensitive to criticism
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