sensitive — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.

   Examples

   The sensitive faculty most part overrules reason, the soul is carried hoodwinked, and the understanding captive like a beast.

2. Responsive to stimuli.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The engine seemed a little sensitive to wet rails, and in consequence the uphill work was not so good north of Dundee as it had been earlier. But I have noted this same "touchiness" on the part of the "A4s", and other modern British 4-6-2s, so that in this respect No. 2006 proved no exception.

3. Easily offended, upset, or hurt.

   Usage

   • of a person

   Examples

   Max is very sensitive; he cried today because of the bad news.

4. Capable of offending, upsetting, or hurting.

   Usage

   • usually
   • of an issue

   Examples

   Religion is often a sensitive topic of discussion and should be avoided when dealing with foreign business associates.

5. Meant to be concealed or kept secret.

   Examples

   These are highly sensitive documents.

   Xeltan: I cannot speak more about this problem; it is too sensitive. Suffice it to say, she has compromised my authority as a diplomat.

6. Being aware of the feelings of others and taking care not to offend them.

   Examples

   Thank you for being sensitive.

7. Important, intricate, and requiring great delicacy.

   Examples

   The president's untimely statement disrupted some very sensitive negotiations.

8. Accurate; able to register small changes in some property.

   Usage

   • of an instrument

9. Having paranormal abilities that can be controlled through mesmerism.

   Usage

   • Archaic

Noun

1. A person with a paranormal sensitivity to something that most cannot perceive.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [I]t is quite certain that many of their fears were unfounded, and centred upon perfectly innocent people - especially those who were what we now call "mediumistic" or "sensitives".

   After all, Madame Rosita was a sensitive.

   Swedenborg was one of the leading savants of Europe; it would be absurd to place any of our sensitives on the same intellectual level.

Adjective

1. responsive to physical stimuli

   Antonyms

   insensitive

   Examples

   a mimosa's leaves are sensitive to touch

   a sensitive voltmeter

   More examples (2)

   sensitive skin

   sensitive to light

2. being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others

   Antonyms

   insensitive

   Examples

   sensitive to the local community and its needs

3. able to feel or perceive

   Synonyms

   sensible

   Examples

   even amoeba are sensible creatures

   the more sensible parts of the skin

4. hurting

   Synonyms

   sorerawtender

   Examples

   the tender spot on his jaw

5. of or pertaining to classified information or matters affecting national security

Noun

1. someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead

   Synonyms

   mediumspiritualist

   Broader terms

   psychic

   Examples

   he consulted several mediums