callous
Cruel and not caring about other people's feelings.
callous in a sentence
- It was callous of the giant to trample the village gardens without a backward glance.
- Leaving the injured bird on the path would be callous, so Faye gently carried it home.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to callous?
- Acruel
- Bkind
- Ccaring
- Dgentle
Show the answer
A: cruel. The other three mean the opposite of callous.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to callous?
- Acold
- Bheartless
- Ckind
- Dcruel
Show the answer
C: kind. The other three mean nearly the same as callous.
Words that mean something similar
cruel, heartless, cold
Words that mean the opposite
kind, caring, gentle
More words about character & personality
- candid: Honest and truthful, saying exactly what you really think.
- candidate: Someone who is trying to be chosen for a job, a prize or a place.
- capable: Able to do something well.
- compassionate: Feeling sorry for others who are hurting and wanting to help them.
- compatible: Able to exist or work well together.
- comrade: A close friend or companion, especially someone you share hard times with.
- conceited: Much too proud of yourself and your abilities.
- consistent: Always behaving or happening in the same way.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test