sensitive

adjective
UK: /ˈsensətɪv/
US: /ˈsensətɪv/

  1. Easily hurt or damaged, especially physically.

    1. Her skin is sensitive to sunlight, so she wears a hat. [ ] [ ]
    2. The instrument is very sensitive and must be handled with care to avoid damage. [ ] [ ]

  2. Quick to detect or feel slight changes, signals, or influences.

    1. The new equipment is sensitive to even small vibrations. [ ] [ ]
    2. Modern pregnancy tests are so sensitive that they can detect pregnancy very early. [ ] [ ]

  3. Easily offended or upset; aware of and understanding other people's feelings.

    1. Don't be so sensitive; it was just a joke and not intended to hurt you. [ ] [ ]
    2. She is a very sensitive person and is deeply affected by the suffering of others, showing empathy. [ ] [ ]

  4. Involving private or secret information, and needing to be handled with care.

    1. This is sensitive information; please keep it confidential. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company handles sensitive financial data, so security is a top priority. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

understanding susceptible empathetic delicate responsive
sensitive noun

  1. A person who is quick to understand and be sympathetic to other people's feelings.

    1. She is a sensitive, always thinking of others. [ ] [ ]
    2. As a sensitive, he understood the nuances of their emotional states perfectly. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "sensitive" in English means: Easily hurt or damaged, especially physically., Quick to detect or feel slight changes, signals, or influences., Easily offended or upset; aware of and understanding other people's feelings., Involving private or secret information, and needing to be handled with care..

The phonetic transcription of "sensitive" is /ˈsensətɪv/ in British English and /ˈsensətɪv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "sensitive": understanding, susceptible, empathetic, delicate, responsive.

Example usage of "sensitive": "Her skin is sensitive to sunlight, so she wears a hat.". More examples on the page.