callous.

1. Showing little concern for another person's pain or distress.

2. Hardened or thickened through friction or wear, especially of skin.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• callous indifference
• callous remark

On the page

His callous remark outlasted the argument that prompted it.

She was appalled by the callous indifference of the spectators.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Comparative more callous; superlative most callous where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.