desensitize

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
21
Words With Friends
22
Letters
11
Pronunciation
/diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/
See all 2 pronunciations
/diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/ · /-ətaɪz/

Definition of desensitize

5 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

verb

  1. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
    “Working in an Operating Room desensitized me to the sight of blood.”
    “[…] child pornography is often used by pedophiles and child sexual abusers to stimulate and whet their own sexual appetites, and as a model for sexual acting out with children; such use of child pornography can desensitize the viewer to the pathology of sexual abuse or exploitation of children, so that it can become acceptable to and even preferred by the viewer;[…]”
See all 5 definitions

verb

  1. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
    “Working in an Operating Room desensitized me to the sight of blood.”
    “[…] child pornography is often used by pedophiles and child sexual abusers to stimulate and whet their own sexual appetites, and as a model for sexual acting out with children; such use of child pornography can desensitize the viewer to the pathology of sexual abuse or exploitation of children, so that it can become acceptable to and even preferred by the viewer;[…]”
  2. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  3. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  4. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  5. (ambitransitive)To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From de- (“not, do the opposite of, undo”) + sensitize. First attested in the 1900s.

Words you can make from desensitize

200+ playable · top: SENSITIZED (20 pts)

Best play sensitized 20 points

9-letter words

6 words

8-letter words

8 words

7-letter words

17 words

6-letter words

38 words

5-letter words

63 words

4-letter words

67 words

Hooks

3 extensions · 3 back

A single letter you can add to desensitize to make another valid word.

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