Sensitive

Definition: Sensitive

Sensitive

Adjective

1. Responsive to physical stimuli; "a mimosa's leaves are sensitive to touch"; "a sensitive voltmeter"; "sensitive skin"; "sensitive to light".

2. Having acute mental or emotional sensibility; "sensitive to the local community and its needs".

3. Able to feel or perceive; "even amoeba are sensible creatures"; "the more sensible parts of the skin".

4. Hurting; "the tender spot on his jaw".

5. Used officially of classified information or matters affecting national security.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "sensitive" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references)

Etymology: Sensitive \Sen"si*tive\, adjective. [French expression sensitif. See Sense.]. (references)

Medicine

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Synonyms: Sensitive

Physical Sensibility

Adjective: sensible, sensitive, sensuous; aesthetic, perceptive, sentient; conscious. (aware).

Sensibility

Verb: be sensible; Adjective: have a tender heart, have a warm heart, have a sensitive heart.

Adjective: sensible, sensitive; impressible, impressionable; susceptive, susceptible; alive to, impassionable, gushing; warm hearted, tender hearted, soft hearted; tender as a chicken; soft, sentimental, romantic; enthusiastic, highflying, spirited, mettlesome, vivacious, lively, expressive, mobile, tremblingly alive; excitable; oversensitive, without skin, thin-skinned; fastidious.

Crosswords: Sensitive

French (sensitive).

I'm saying you might have consulted us; obviously, the contents of this message could be extremely sensitive. (Contact; writing credit: Carl Sagan;)

My ear canals are very sensitive. They're stainless steel (Hot Shots!; writing credit: Jim Abrahams; Pat Proft)

You take your little sensitive ass up there and let me in. Get out of the way (Rush Hour; writing credit: Jim Kouf)

In fact, you don't normally approach girls -- am I right? The truth is that you're a quiet sensitive type but, if I'm prepared to take a chance, I might just get to know the inner you. Taxi (Trainspotting; writing credit: John Hodge. Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.)

No! And you people are supposed to be sensitive and sharp (As Good As It Gets; writing credit: Mark Andrus)

You were fashionably sensitive, but too cool to care (Foolish Games; performing artist: Jewel)

Penguins are so sensitive (Penguins; performing artist: Lyle Lovett)

We're all sensitive people (Let's Get It On; performing artist: Marvin Gaye)

No place for beginners or sensitive hearts (SMOOTH OPERATOR; performing artist: Sade; writing credit: Sade Adu and St. John)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

References

• The 2003-2008 World Outlook for Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste (reference)

  (more reference examples)

Books

• The Highly Sensitive Person in Love: Understanding and Managing Relationships When the World Overwhelms You (reference)

• The Sensitive Person's Survival Guide: An Alternative Health Answer to Emotional Sensitivity & Depression (reference)

  (more book examples)

Theater & Movies

• ROM Dance: A Range of Motion Exercise and Relaxation Program (Lupus/Sun Sensitive Version) (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• Pressure Sensitive (reference)

• Sensitive to the Touch (reference)

• Strong Like Bull but Sensitive Like Squirrel (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech

• Macally 2btn Programmable Mouseadb - Auto Application Sensitive (reference)

• Disklock to Lock and Encrypt Sensitive Data with A Click (reference)

• Wacom Cordless Pressure Sensitive Stylus For Ud Series Only (reference)

• Wacom Pressure Sensitive Pen with Eraser Cordless (reference)

• Casio CTK573 61-Note Touch Sensitive Keyboard with Adapter and Song Books (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Consumer Goods

• Norelco HP6414 Satinelle Sensitive Hair Removal System (reference)

  (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

These are various images of a patient being treated with hyperthermia. Whole body hyperthermia is a method to raise a patient's body temperature for the treatment of advanced cancer. This technique is based on laboratory studies that show cancer cells are more sensitive to heat injury than normal cells. Physicians induce hyperthermia using a high-flow water suit controlled by a microprocessor, a machine which closely monitors body temperature. The patient's body temperature is raised by the insulated build-up of metabolic (body) heat, plus by the heat delivered by the warm-water suit. Credit: Mike Mitchell (photographer).

Shown is a patient being treated with hyperthermia. Whole body hyperthermia is a method to raise a patient's body temperature for the treatment of advanced cancer. This technique is based on laboratory studies that show cancer cells are more sensitive to heat injury than normal cells. Physicians induce hyperthermia using a high-flow water suit controlled by a microprocessor, a machine which closely monitors body temperature. The patient's body temperature is raised by the insulated build-up of metabolic (body) heat, plus by the heat delivered by the warm-water suit. Credit: Mike Mitchell (photographer).

The wasp’s compound eye is actually made up of many identical receptor units called ommatidia. Each receptor contains its own lens and light sensitive cells, and is actually an eye unto itself. Credit: CDC.

The fourth in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The fifth in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The seventh in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

Gentle draft horses were used to transport wood to the sensitive regions of the upper river where heavy machinery would have been inappropriate. The horses were less expensive and worked in conjunction with the spyder to minimize disturbance to the stream bed and riparian buffer areas. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The first in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The second in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. This image shows the spyder crawling. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The third in a series of images that show the specialized "spyder" at work at the Glade Bekken restoration site. The spyder was used at the restoration site to prevent and minimize disturbance to the habitat. The machine crawls and walks over the surface as opposed to rolling over and flattening sensitive habitats. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

He had a ready faculty, indeed, of escaping from any topic that agitated his too sensitive and nervous temperament

His sensitive nature was still smarting under the lashes of an undivined and squalid way of life

Both which practices were such degrees of brutality, that no other sensitive creature ever arrived at.

Though the youth at last grows indifferent, the laws of the universe are not indifferent, but are forever on the side of the most sensitive.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Your eye will be red and sensitive. (references)

Second, programs need to be culturally sensitive. (references)

The skin around the anus is delicate and sensitive. (references)

Business

China’s sensitive materials market is very competitive. (references)

Imports of sensitive materials have occupied 67% of the local market. (references)

On the other hand, schools, colleges, and universities are very price sensitive. (references)

Civil Liberties

Burkina Faso

The President and his Government remain sensitive to criticism. (references)

Italy

Courts are sensitive to criticism and impose fines for defamation. (references)

Tanzania

Some journalists, such as those in Zanzibar, exercise self-censorship on sensitive problems. (references)

Economic History

Nigeria

Nigeria's rice market is highly competitive and prices sensitive. (references)

Zimbabwe

Land reform is a long-standing and very sensitive issue in Zimbabwe. (references)

Swaziland

The questions of land use and ownership remains a very sensitive one. (references)

Human Rights

Tunisia

This renders judges susceptible to pressure in politically sensitive cases. (references)

China

The authorities blocked some dissidents from meeting with foreigners during politically sensitive periods. (references)

China

However, in practice, timely notification remains a serious problem, especially in sensitive political cases. (references)

Minorities

Fiji

Control of the land remains a highly sensitive issue. (references)

Malaysia

Public questioning of the preference rights of ethnic Malays is a sensitive issue. (references)

Tanzania

Some urban Muslim groups are sensitive to perceived discrimination in government hiring and law enforcement practices. (references)

Political Economy

ITALY

There are, however, monitoring measures applied to imports of certain sensitive products. (references)

Indonesia

The media now report developments freely and routinely publish a wide range of opinion on sensitive issues. (references)

Pakistan

During some religious holidays, the regular army is deployed in sensitive areas to help maintain public order. (references)

Trade

Poland

Some types of goods are defined as sensitive for the Polish market. (references)

Canada

Canadian banks have become sensitive to the growing financial needs of franchised operations. (references)

Argentina

However, for imports of sensitive products, subject to monitoring, the procedure may take up to 10 days. (references)

Travel

Oman

The Omani market is very price sensitive. (references)

Vietnam

That said, the authorities are always sensitive to the import and export of information, such as that on a hard disk. (references)

Oman

Visitors should also be sensitive to hosts who break off a discussion for prayer at noon and at sunset, which falls during business hours. (references)

Women

Tunisia

Media attention focuses on women's economic and academic accomplishments, and usually omits reference to culturally sensitive issues. (references)

Armenia

Embarrassment and concerns for family honor make the problem particularly sensitive and difficult to quantify; women's groups and health professionals also declined to offer specific figures. (references)

Indonesia

More invasive FGM practices--removal of the clitoral prepuce, partial removal of the sensitive tip of the clitoris, and even total removal--reportedly occur in Madura, South Sulawesi, and parts of East Java. (references)

Worker Rights

Germany

The Basic Law provides for the right to strike, except for civil servants (including teachers) and personnel in sensitive positions, such as members of the armed forces. (references)

China

The Government also placed restrictions on the movement of ethnic Tibetans during sensitive anniversaries and events and increased controls over border areas at these times. (references)

China

Security was intensified during sensitive anniversaries and festival days, and particularly during ceremonies surrounding the 50th anniversary of the "Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" in the summer. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "sensitive": be sensitive to cold ♦ case sensitive ♦ Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy ♦ have a sensitive heart ♦ highly sensitive ♦ highly sensitive object ♦ language Sensitive Editor ♦ sensitive altimeter ♦ sensitive fern ♦ sensitive flame ♦ sensitive joint vetch ♦ sensitive on a question of honor ♦ sensitive on a question of honour ♦ sensitive paper ♦ sensitive pea ♦ sensitive plant ♦ sensitive plate ♦ sensitive spot ♦ sensitive to cold ♦ sensitive to heat ♦ sensitive to the cold ♦ super sensitive ♦ the most sensitive spot ♦ too sensitive ♦ very sensitive ♦ volume sensitive pedestrian detection ♦ wild sensitive plant. Additional references.

Beginning with "sensitive": sensitive-skinned.

Ending with "sensitive": amiloride-sensitive, anion-sensitive, blue-sensitive, case-sensitive, chemical-sensitive, context-sensitive, environmentally-sensitive, food-sensitive, hyper-sensitive, movement-sensitive, over-sensitive, photo-sensitive, ph-sensitive, politically-sensitive, pressure-sensitive, price-sensitive, red-sensitive, speed-sensitive, sun-sensitive, super-sensitive, temperature-sensitive, time-sensitive, touch-sensitive, toxin-sensitive, ultra-sensitive.

Containing "sensitive": context-sensitive menu, language-sensitive editor, level-sensitive scan design.

Afrikaans

sensitief (impressable, impressible). (various references)

Albanian

i prekshëm (huffy, palpable, susceptible, tactile, tangible, thin-skinned, touchy, umbrageous, vulnerable), i ndjeshëm (appreciable, delicate, fast, perceptible, sensible, sensuous, sentient, sentimental, susceptive, tender, thin-skinned, touchy), i ndikueshëm (impressible, impressionable, pervious, plastic, suggestible). (various references)

Arabic 

‏مرهف (delicate, fine, flimsy, slender), ‏حسي (object lesson, receptive, sensational, sensory, sensual, tangible, voluptuous), ‏حساس (compassionate, critical, emotional, feeling, fine, hypersensitive, impressionable, maudlin, responsive, sensational, sensible, sentient, sentiment, sentimental, susceptible, sympathetic, temperamental, tender, tender-hearted, ticklish), ‏سريع التقلب, ‏ذو حس, ‏رقيق الشعور, ‏بالغ الدقة (filigree, precise). (various references)

Bulgarian 

свързан с отговорности, светлочувствителен (photoactive, photosensitive), чувствителен (apprehensive, fastidious, feeling, hair-trigger, high strung, impressionable, nice, sensible, sentient, susceptible, susceptive, tender, thin-skinned), точен (accurate, careful, correct, exact, express, faithful, just, literal, minute, narrow, near, perfect, pinpoint, precise, precision, proper, punctual, refined, right, rigorous, scientific, straight, strict, true, unerring, veracious, well-directed), таен (arcane, backdoor, clandestine, confidential, cryptic, dark, darkling, esoteric, hole-and-corner, hugger mugger, hush hush, inside, mystic, occult, private, privy, recondite, secret, sneaking, snug, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand), обидчив (hoity toity, huffish, miffy, pettish, prickly, resentful, spiky, squeamish, susceptible, techy, testy, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy, umbrageous), прецизен (accurate, businesslike, curious, exact, pinpoint, precision, refined, smart). (various references)

Chinese 

敏感 . (various references)

Czech

nedùtklivý (irritable, petulant, testy, thin-skinned, touchy, waspish), delikátní (scabrous), dùvìrný (close, confidential, esoteric, familiar, hail-fellow-well-met, home, hush hush, intimate, off the record, private, restricted), citlivý (delicate, feeling, impressionable, open-hearted, responsive, sore, susceptible, tender, thin-skinned, vexed). (various references)

Danish

følsom (affecting, moving, touching). (various references)

Dutch

gevoelig (accessible, dainty, delicate, fine, impressible, refined), receptief (accessible, impressable, impressible). (various references)

Esperanto

sentiva, sentema, impresiĝema (impressable), impresebla (accessible, impressible). (various references)

Faeroese

viðkvæmur. (various references)

Farsi 

نفوذپذیر (Penetrable, Permeable), حساس (Acute, Alive, Delicate, Exquisite, Sensory, Stark, Susceptible, Techy, Tender, Ticklish, Touchy, Vigilant), دارای حساسیت . (various references)

Finnish

tunteellinen (emotional, sentimental), herkkätunteinen (easily affected, impressionable), herkkä (apt, impressionable, inclined, susceptible), hellätunteinen (tender), arkatunteinen (considerate), arkaluonteinen (delicate), arka (careful, faint-hearted, shy, sore, tender, timid, timorous), altis (devoted, disposed, inclined, liable, susceptible, willing). (various references)

French

sensible (sensible, sentient), susceptible. (various references)

German

empfindlich (appreciable, brittle, damageable, delicate, delicately, huffy, pettish, queasily, queasy, raw, severe, sharp, spiky, squeamish, telling, tender, thin-skinned, touchy, weak), sensibel (delicate, problematic, sensible), sensitiv, empfindsam (sentimental). (various references)

Greek 

εύθικτοσ (huffy, queasy, touchy), ευαίσθητοσ (delicate, emotional, impressionable, mushy, queasy, responsive, sentient, susceptible, temperamental, thin-skinned, touchy), ευαίσθητος (susceptible to), αισθητικόσ (aesthetic, aesthetician, sensible, sensuous, sentient). (various references)

Hebrew 

חישוני, איסטניסי (delicate, fastidious, squeamish), אנין הדעת (delicate, eclectic, refined), רגיש (excitable, squeamish, susceptible, thinskinned, touchy), נוח להפגע (susceptible, touchy, vulnerable). (various references)

Hungarian

érzékeny (affective, highly strung, irritable, miffy, penetrable, respond, responsive, sensible, sentient, skinless, susceptible, testy, thin-skinned, touchy), túlérzékeny (highly strung, supersensitive), kényes (fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, missy, namby-pamby, pernickety, prickly, queasy, subtle, tender, testy, ticklish), érző (feeling, fey, sentient). (various references)

Indonesian

perasa (sensible), peka, mempan (effective, vulnerable). (various references)

Italian

sensibile (amenable, feeling, sensible, susceptible, tenderhearted, touchy), sensitivo (emotional, receptive). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

神経が鋭い (thin-skinned), 神経の鋭い (thin-skinned), 敏感 (sensibility, susceptibility, well attuned to), 多感 (emotional). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

たかん (emotional), しんけいがするどい (thin-skinned), しんけいのするどい (thin-skinned), びんかん (sensibility, susceptibility, well attuned to). (various references)

Korean 

과민한 (brittle, hypersensitive). (various references)

Manx

mioyral (lively), ennaghtagh (emotional, sentient, sentimental), corragh (chequered, chequered as career, crazy, eccentric, erratic, falling, hectic, infirm, irresolute, jerry-built, rocky place, skittish, troubled, troubled of period, unbalanced, unbalanced of mind, uneven, uneven as temper, wobbly). (various references)

Pig Latin

ensitivesay.(various references)

Polish

uczuciowy. (various references)

Portuguese

sensível (accessible, delicate, feeling, finicky, impressible, kid-glove, novelettish, pervious, responsive, sensible, sensory, sensuous, sentient, sentimental, sore, susceptible, tender, thinskinned, ticklish), sensitivo (sensory, sensual), impressionável (accessible, impressible, receptive, responsive, sensory, susceptible, tender). (various references)

Romanian

susceptibil (difficult, huffish, in, irascible, petulaht, scrupulous, spiky, susceptible, testy, ticklish, touchy), simţit (civil, considerate, touching), senzitiv (feeling, sensorial, sensory), sensibil (appreciably, considerable, considerably, delicate, feeling, impressible, impressionable, marked, noticeably, painful, palpable, passible, responsive, scrupulous, sensible, sentient, susceptible, tangible, tender, thin-skinned, touchy), belaliu (difficult, fastidious, touchy), afectiv (affectionate, affective, emotional). (various references)

Russian 

чувствительный (high strung, high-strung, sensory, squeamish, susceptive, thin-skinned). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

tanan (tenuous), osetljiv (dainty, fast, pettish, queasy, sensible, sensuous, sentient, susceptible, tetchy, thin-skinned), kolebljiv (halting, shilly shally, staggering, vacillating, wabbly, wavering, wishy washy), emotivan (emotional). (various references)

Spanish

sensible (adoptive, alive, amenable, appreciative, appreciatory, feeling, noticeable, perceptible, regrettable, responsive, sentient, susceptive, tangible, tender). (various references)

Swedish

sensibel, känslig (delicate, exquisite, nice, responsive, sharp, thin-skinned, touchy, vulnerable). (various references)

Turkish

içli (emotional, sentimental, soulful, weepy), hassas kimse, hassas (brittle, climacteric, critical, delicate, emotional, exquisite, fair, feeling, fine, impressible, impressionable, nice, passibile, precision, queasy, quick, raw, responsive, rose water, sensible, slippery, sore, spoony, squeamish, susceptible, susceptive, tender, thin-skinned, ticklish, tickly, touchy), duygulu (emotional, emotive, feeling, passibile, sentient, sentimental, soulful, susceptible, thin-skinned), duyarlı (capable, delicate, emotional, feeling, hypersensitive, impressible, impressionable, liable, reactive, responsive, sensible, sentient, susceptible, susceptive, tender, thin-skinned), alıngan kimse (sorehead), alıngan (easily offended, edgy, fragile, irritable, pettish, petulant, sore, squeamish, stuffy, susceptible, susceptive, swift to take offence, techy, tender, testy, tetchy, thin skin, ticklish, tickly, touchy, umbrageous). (various references)

Turkmen 

цяkelek (touchy), eserdeс (vigilant). (various references)

Ukrainian

уразливий (biting, defenceless, defenseless, huffy, pregnable, squeamish, techy, tetchy, thin-skinned, vulnerable), секретний (back room, classified, confidential, hole-and-corner, hush hush, private, privy, secret, subterraneous, underhand, underneath), сприйнятливий (acquisitive, adoptive, alive, apprehensive, apt, cataleptic, facile, open minded, perceptive, pervious, receptive, recipient, susceptive), чутливий (affectional, feeling, high strung, highly strung, hightoned, impressionable, nice, responsive, rocky, sensible, sensory, sentient, susceptible, ticklish). (various references)

Vietnamese 

người dễ bị thôi miên, dễ cảm xúc; nhạy cảm nhạy, dễ cảm động (impressible). (various references)

Welsh

tenau (lean, rarefied, slender, thin), teimladwy (feeling). (various references)

aisthetikos, pathetikos. (various references)

sensilis, sensualis. (various references)

sensitivus. (various references)

Derivations

Words beginning with "sensitive": sensitively, sensitiveness, sensitivenesses, sensitives. (additional references)

Words ending with "sensitive": hypersensitive, insensitive, nonsensitive, oversensitive, photosensitive, radiosensitive, supersensitive, ultrasensitive. (additional references)

Words containing "sensitive": hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivenesses, insensitively, insensitiveness, insensitivenesses, oversensitiveness, oversensitivenesses, supersensitively. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Sensitive" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: senisitive, sensative, senseative, sensetive, sensitif, sensitiv, sensitiva, sensitve, senstive, sentitive, sinsitive. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-1 letter: invitees, sienites, veiniest.

-2 letters: invests, invitee, invites, sestine, sienite, tensive, viniest, vitesse.

-3 letters: envies, events, evites, insets, insist, invest, invite, nieves, niseis, seines, seisin, seniti, sevens, sieves, steins, tenses, visits.

-4 letters: evens, event, evite, inset, intis, issei, ivies, neist, nests, neves, nieve, nisei, nites, seine, seise, sense, sente, senti, seven, sieve, sines, sites, snits.

+1 letter: intensives, sensitives, venosities.

+2 letters: disinvested, fictiveness, insensitive, nervosities, sensitively, televisions.

+3 letters: fugitiveness, insectivores, investigates, investitures, lentiviruses, nonsensitive, positiveness, punitiveness, thievishness, timeservings, universities, vesuvianites.

+4 letters: antislaveries, disincentives, disinvestment, eviscerations, expansivities, fictivenesses, imitativeness, insensitively, intensiveness, introgressive, intrusiveness, intuitiveness, invectiveness, inventiveness, inviolateness, overinsistent, oversensitive, plaintiveness, primitiveness, resistiveness, sensitiveness, sensitivities, sovereignties.

+5 letters: antisubversive, definitiveness, derivativeness, diminutiveness, disinvestments, disruptiveness, divertissement, figurativeness, fugitivenesses, hypersensitive, imperativeness, inevitableness, innovativeness, meditativeness, photosensitive, positivenesses, prerevisionist, punitivenesses, radiosensitive, reinvestigates, repetitiveness, reservationist, revolutionises, supersensitive, thievishnesses, transitiveness, ultrasensitive, universalities, vegetarianisms, vindictiveness, vitellogenesis.