sensibility
The special ability to feel and understand fine feelings, art, or moral questions in a deep and careful way.
The refined capacity to notice and appreciate delicate emotional, artistic, or moral qualities.
The way someone feels things very strongly and is easily moved or hurt by emotions.
A person's tendency to feel emotions intensely and be easily influenced or moved by emotional experiences.
The usual feelings, likes, and ideas about what is right or wrong that a person or group has.
The characteristic values, tastes, and emotional reactions of a person or group, especially regarding what is acceptable or offensive.
The ability of a part of the body to feel things like pain, heat, or touch.
The capacity of a body part or organism to perceive physical stimuli, such as touch, pain, or temperature.
- Base: sensibility
- Plural: sensibilities, sensibility
appeal to someone's sensibilities
1try to persuade via values or taste
to try to make someone agree or help by speaking to their feelings, values, or taste
- 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
1strongly disturb someone's values or feelings
to make someone feel very upset or angry because something goes against their values or feelings
- 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
1do something that someone finds offensive
to do or say something that someone feels is wrong, rude, or against their values or taste
- 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
2upset 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
- 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.