sensibility
gb/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/ us/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
B2
Engleză
~ 7600
Sensuri
0 sensuri
Substantiv
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.
Tipar de utilizare:
[someone] has a [adjective] sensibility; [adjective] sensibility to [something]; develop a sensibility for [something]
Greșeală frecventă:
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.
Sinonime
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.)
Antonime
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.)
Colocații
artistic sensibility
|aesthetic sensibility
|moral sensibility
|literary sensibility
|refined sensibility
|develop a sensibility
Teme
emotions
|art
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Substantiv
B2
property
2
tendency to feel emotions deeply
The way someone feels things very strongly and is easily moved or hurt by emotions.
Tipar de utilizare:
[someone]'s sensibility; a [adjective] sensibility; sensibility to [emotional experience]
Greșeală frecventă:
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.
Sinonime
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.")
Antonime
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.)
Colocații
emotional sensibility
|heightened sensibility
|deep sensibility
|a gentle sensibility
|a delicate sensibility
|his/her sensibility
Teme
emotions
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Substantiv
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.
Tipar de utilizare:
the sensibilities of [a group]; [adjective] sensibilities; offend [someone]'s sensibilities
Greșeală frecventă:
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.
Sinonime
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.)
Antonime
indifference (Implies not caring about what might normally move or offend a person's or group's sensibilities.)
Colocații
modern sensibilities
|cultural sensibilities
|religious sensibilities
|political sensibilities
|offend [someone]'s sensibilities
|appeal to [someone]'s sensibilities
Teme
culture
|society
|morality
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Substantiv
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.
Tipar de utilizare:
sensibility to [stimulus]; loss of sensibility in [a body part]
Greșeală frecventă:
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.
Sinonime
sensitivity (The more common term in both everyday and technical language for physical reaction to stimuli.)
Antonime
numbness (Describes the lack or loss of physical feeling in a body part.)
|
analgesia (Technical medical term for the absence of pain sensation.)
Colocații
tactile sensibility
|pain sensibility
|skin sensibility
|loss of sensibility
|reduced sensibility
|sensibility to pain
Teme
medicine
|science
|body
|health
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
sensibility
IPA
GB/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
US/sˌɛnsɪbˈɪlɪti/
Silabe și accent
sens - ib - il - ity (4 silabe)
Stress on 3rd syllable (il)
Forme ale cuvântului
Noun
- Base: sensibility
- Plural: sensibilities, sensibility
Familie de cuvinte
Forms
sensibilities
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
Expresii
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
Exemple
- 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
Exemple
- 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
Exemple
- 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
Exemple
- 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.