Sensitive
adj.kind, thoughtfulwarm
Meaning 1
Quick to notice and consider feelings, needs, or subtle distinctions.
Reach for it when praising emotional or social awareness that shapes considerate conduct
The sensitive teacher changed examples when she saw that the story was distressing a child.
Choose between these
5- warm
when awareness becomes a thoughtful action
not when A considerate act may follow a stated request rather than subtle sensitivity.
- warm
when understanding another's felt experience is central
not when Sensitivity can notice a need accurately without sharing the emotion.
- professional
when fine details or social cues are read accurately
not when Perception alone does not guarantee kindness in response.
- professional
when difficult communication avoids needless hurt
not when Tact is a skillful choice, not the broader capacity to feel or notice.
- literary
attuned
when close responsiveness to a person or atmosphere is sustained
not when It can sound vague unless the sentence names what the person is attuned to.
Meaning 2
Readily affected by a stimulus, change, or pressure.
Reach for it when describing heightened response without treating it as a character flaw
His sensitive eyes needed softer light during the examination.
Choose between these
3- professional
when a measurable change follows a small input
not when Responsive is about reaction and may carry no vulnerability.
- formal
when a system, material, or body part is easily affected
not when Applied to a person, delicate may imply weakness rather than sensitivity.
- formal
susceptible
when exposure makes an unwanted effect more likely
not when It is usually negative and should not replace positive emotional sensitivity.
Said against
3- insensitive
- oblivious
- resistant
It naturally appears in
3- sensitive person
As a sensitive person, Kofi noticed when teasing had stopped being mutual.
- sensitive to criticism
She was sensitive to criticism but learned to ask which part was actionable.
- sensitive subject
The mediator introduced the sensitive subject only after agreeing on privacy.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense 6: aware of others' feelings and careful not to offend opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English adjective sense 2: responsive to stimuli opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.