callous

Everyday

1. Cruel and not caring at all about other people's feelings or pain. tree →
2. Showing no pity: «a callous remark». tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories, history and ethics lessons to describe a person who hurts others and does not care. It is a strong judging word: callous behaviour, callous disregard, callous indifference. Its opposite is kind, caring or compassionate.

Examples

• It was callous to laugh when she fell over. tree →
• The callous man kicked the stray dog. tree →
• The villain made a callous joke about the people he had cheated. tree →
• Ignoring someone who needs help can be callous. tree →
• The judge called the crime cold and callous. tree →
• She was shocked by his callous words. tree →
• So great indeed was their faith in a mother’s love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer. tree →

Note

Homophone trap: «callous» (adjective, unkind) and «callus» (noun, a hard patch of skin on hands or feet) sound the same. Noun: callousness; adverb: callously.