Αγγλικά

sensibility

gb/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/ us/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
B2 Αγγλικά
~ 7600
Σημασίες
0 σημασίες
Ουσιαστικό formal C1 property
1

refined sensitivity to art or morals

The special ability to feel and understand fine feelings, art, or moral questions in a deep and careful way.

Μοτίβο χρήσης: [someone] has a [adjective] sensibility; [adjective] sensibility to [something]; develop a sensibility for [something]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes use "sensibility" when they simply mean "sense" or "sensitivity" in everyday situations (e.g., *"It makes no sensibility"* instead of *"It makes no sense"*). "Sensibility" is mostly used in more formal writing about art, culture, emotions, or morals, not for basic understanding or logic.
Συνώνυμα
sensitivity (Broader and more common; can refer to being easily hurt or physically sensitive, not only refined appreciation of art or morals.) | taste (Focuses more on preferences and style, especially in art and culture, and less on deep emotional or moral awareness.) | refinement (Emphasizes elegance and cultured manners as well as judgment, not only emotional perception.)
Αντώνυμα
insensitivity (Suggests a lack of emotional or aesthetic awareness, or failure to notice what others feel or value.) | coarseness (Implies rough, crude tastes or attitudes that ignore or reject subtle or delicate feelings.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
artistic sensibility |aesthetic sensibility |moral sensibility |literary sensibility |refined sensibility |develop a sensibility
Θέματα
emotions |art |culture |arts_entertainment |core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
  • Her artistic sensibility allows her to notice details in paintings that most viewers completely miss.
  • The film was clearly made with a European sensibility, focusing more on character than on plot.
  • His moral sensibility was offended by the way the workers were treated.
  • The novel reflects a modern sensibility, with complex characters and ambiguous morals.
  • Traveling widely helped him develop a broader cultural sensibility.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
  • She has a strong artistic sensibility and likes very simple, clean design.
  • The book shows a gentle sensibility toward animals.
  • Living in two countries gave him a different cultural sensibility.
  • His moral sensibility is important in his work as a judge.
Ουσιαστικό B2 property
2

tendency to feel emotions deeply

The way someone feels things very strongly and is easily moved or hurt by emotions.

Μοτίβο χρήσης: [someone]'s sensibility; a [adjective] sensibility; sensibility to [emotional experience]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may confuse this meaning with physical sensitivity (for example, to light or noise). In this sense, "sensibility" refers to emotional response, not to the physical senses. For physical reactions, "sensitivity" is usually preferred.
Συνώνυμα
emotional sensitivity (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech than "sensibility.") | sensitiveness (Less frequent; can sound a bit old-fashioned or technical compared with "sensibility.")
Αντώνυμα
toughness (Stresses not being easily upset or moved; more about strength than about fine emotional awareness.) | emotional numbness (Describes a state of feeling almost no emotion, the opposite of deep emotional response.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
emotional sensibility |heightened sensibility |deep sensibility |a gentle sensibility |a delicate sensibility |his/her sensibility
Θέματα
emotions |personality |core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
  • His great sensibility makes him a compassionate listener but also leaves him easily exhausted.
  • The poem will appeal to readers with a quiet, introspective sensibility.
  • Her sensibility was wounded by their careless jokes about mental health.
  • A certain emotional sensibility is required to work with grieving families.
  • She hides her natural sensibility behind humor and sarcasm.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
  • His strong sensibility helps him understand other people’s pain.
  • Because of her sensibility, she cries easily at sad movies.
  • The job is hard for someone with such a soft sensibility.
  • Her sensibility makes her kind, but also makes her tired.
Ουσιαστικό formal C1 entity
3

values and tastes of a person or group

The usual feelings, likes, and ideas about what is right or wrong that a person or group has.

Μοτίβο χρήσης: the sensibilities of [a group]; [adjective] sensibilities; offend [someone]'s sensibilities
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes use the singular (*"the sensibility of people"*) where native speakers prefer the plural (*"the sensibilities of people"*) to talk about shared values and tastes. Also, they may say *"hurt sensibilities"* where *"offend sensibilities"* is more natural in this meaning.
Συνώνυμα
values (Focuses more on moral beliefs, and less on emotional taste or aesthetic preference.) | tastes (Emphasizes preferences, often in art or lifestyle, and may sound less serious than "sensibilities.") | mindset (Refers more to general ways of thinking than to emotional or aesthetic responses.)
Αντώνυμα
indifference (Implies not caring about what might normally move or offend a person's or group's sensibilities.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
modern sensibilities |cultural sensibilities |religious sensibilities |political sensibilities |offend [someone]'s sensibilities |appeal to [someone]'s sensibilities
Θέματα
culture |society |morality |emotions |relationships |communication |core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
  • The film was edited to suit the sensibilities of a younger audience.
  • Such jokes are offensive to the religious sensibilities of many people.
  • The novel clashes with modern sensibilities in its treatment of women.
  • Politicians carefully avoid language that might upset nationalist sensibilities.
  • Designers must be aware of local cultural sensibilities when working abroad.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
  • The show was changed to fit Western sensibilities.
  • That cartoon hurt the religious sensibilities of many people.
  • The book may not match modern sensibilities about race.
  • We should respect the cultural sensibilities of visitors.
Ουσιαστικό technical C2 property
4

capacity to feel physical stimuli

The ability of a part of the body to feel things like pain, heat, or touch.

Μοτίβο χρήσης: sensibility to [stimulus]; loss of sensibility in [a body part]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners almost always use "sensitivity" instead of "sensibility" for physical feeling, which is usually correct in modern non-technical English. This technical sense of "sensibility" appears mainly in medical or scientific writing.
Συνώνυμα
sensitivity (The more common term in both everyday and technical language for physical reaction to stimuli.)
Αντώνυμα
numbness (Describes the lack or loss of physical feeling in a body part.) | analgesia (Technical medical term for the absence of pain sensation.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
tactile sensibility |pain sensibility |skin sensibility |loss of sensibility |reduced sensibility |sensibility to pain
Θέματα
medicine |science |body |health
Παραδείγματα
  • The surgeon tested the patient's finger for loss of sensibility after the operation.
  • Skin sensibility was reduced in the area around the scar.
  • The study measured tactile sensibility in elderly patients.
  • Diabetes can lead to decreased sensibility in the feet.
  • Cold temperatures may temporarily impair nerve sensibility.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
  • After the cut, he had no sensibility in his thumb.
  • The doctor checked the sensibility of her skin with a small needle.
  • The disease slowly reduces sensibility in the legs.
  • Good sensibility in the fingers is important for this work.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
sensibility
IPA
GB/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
US/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
sens - ib - il - ity (4 συλλαβές)
Stress on 3rd syllable (il)
Τύποι λέξης
Noun
  • Base: sensibility
  • Plural: sensibilities, sensibility
Οικογένεια λέξεων
Forms
sensibilities noun
Core family
sense noun A1 sensible adjective B1 sensibly adverb
Related words
sensitive adjective B1 sensitivity noun B2 sensation noun B1 sensory adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
insensitive adjective B2 insensitivity noun senseless adjective B2 nonsense noun B1
Advanced or less common
sensational adjective sensor noun B1 sensitize verb
Εκφράσεις

appeal to someone's sensibilities

1
/əpˈil tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪtiz/
fixed phrase formal

try to persuade via values or taste

to try to make someone agree or help by speaking to their feelings, values, or taste

Παραδείγματα
  • The charity’s campaign was designed to appeal to the sensibilities of young professionals.
  • He tried to appeal to her sensibilities as a parent rather than argue about the law.
  • The film clearly appeals to modern sensibilities about justice and equality.

shock someone's sensibilities

1
/ʃˈɑk sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪtiz/
fixed phrase formal

strongly disturb someone's values or feelings

to make someone feel very upset or angry because something goes against their values or feelings

Παραδείγματα
  • The brutality of the documentary will shock the sensibilities of many viewers.
  • Such language may shock the sensibilities of more traditional audiences.
  • The story’s casual cruelty shocks modern sensibilities about children’s safety.

offend someone's sensibilities

1
/əfˈɛnd sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪtiz/
fixed phrase formal

do something that someone finds offensive

to do or say something that someone feels is wrong, rude, or against their values or taste

Παραδείγματα
  • The artist knew his work would offend some people's sensibilities but chose to show it anyway.
  • The advertisement offended local sensibilities and was quickly removed from television.
  • They were careful not to offend the sensibilities of older voters with their campaign posters.

offend someone's sensibilities

2
/əfˈɛnd sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪtiz/
fixed phrase

upset someone's taste or values

to do or say something that feels wrong or shocking to someone's ideas of good taste or proper behavior

Παραδείγματα
  • The director tried not to offend anyone's sensibilities with the violent scenes.
  • The joke might offend the sensibilities of older viewers.
  • We changed the wording so it wouldn't offend local sensibilities.

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