sensitivity
being easily hurt or moved
the quality of feeling things very strongly and getting hurt or upset easily
[someone]'s sensitivity to [something]
- Her sensitivity to criticism makes it hard for her to read online comments.
- The movie explores a teenager's sensitivity during a difficult time in his life.
- Because of his sensitivity, he often takes casual remarks very personally.
- Therapy helped him manage his sensitivity to conflict in relationships.
- He admired her artistic sensitivity but worried about how easily she got hurt.
- Her sensitivity to loud voices makes her cry easily.
- Because of his sensitivity, he feels sad when people speak sharply to him.
- Teenagers often have strong sensitivity about their appearance.
- His sensitivity to failure stops him from trying new things.
- The child shows great sensitivity when his parents argue.
careful respect for feelings
the quality of seeing and respecting other people's feelings and needs, and acting with care
show sensitivity to [someone/something]
- The nurse handled the bad news with great sensitivity.
- Teachers need sensitivity to the different backgrounds of their students.
- He showed remarkable sensitivity in the way he spoke to the grieving family.
- Cultural sensitivity is essential when working with international clients.
- The manager praised her sensitivity to the team's workload and stress levels.
- She showed sensitivity when she listened quietly to her friend.
- We must have sensitivity to people who are different from us.
- Good doctors need both knowledge and sensitivity.
- They designed the ad with sensitivity to local culture.
- The company offers sensitivity training to help staff understand each other.
strong reaction to physical stimuli
how strongly a part of the body or a sense reacts to things like touch, light, sound, or heat
[someone]'s sensitivity to [light/sound/pain/etc.]
- Many migraine sufferers report increased sensitivity to light and sound.
- Her skin sensitivity means she can only wear very soft fabrics.
- The dentist prescribed a special toothpaste for tooth sensitivity.
- After the surgery, she noticed a strange sensitivity to cold in her hands.
- Workers complained about their sensitivity to the constant background noise in the factory.
- His sensitivity to loud music gives him headaches.
- I have skin sensitivity, so this soap hurts my hands.
- The baby has a strong sensitivity to bright light.
- My tooth sensitivity is worse when I drink cold water.
- Due to her sensitivity to heat, she stays inside on hot days.
allergic or adverse body reaction
a problem where your body does not accept a certain food, drink, or other substance and reacts badly to it
[someone] has a sensitivity to [substance]
- The test showed that she has a gluten sensitivity, not a full allergy.
- Some people develop a sensitivity to certain antibiotics over time.
- His skin sensitivity to nickel makes it hard for him to wear cheap jewelry.
- They removed dairy from his diet to see if a milk sensitivity was causing the rash.
- The label warns people with aspirin sensitivity not to take this product.
- She has a milk sensitivity and cannot drink normal milk.
- After the meal, he found out he had a food sensitivity.
- My friend has a gluten sensitivity and eats special bread.
- The doctor said my cough may be from a dust sensitivity.
- He developed a sensitivity to this medicine and must stop taking it.
delicate or politically risky nature
how delicate or easily dangerous a topic, situation, or information is, so people must be careful with it
the sensitivity of [an issue/topic/information]
- Due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, all meetings were held in private.
- The journalist was aware of the political sensitivity of the story.
- Because of commercial sensitivity, the company refused to share detailed sales figures.
- The report stressed the sensitivity of the subject for the local community.
- New rules aim to reflect the sensitivity of personal data in the digital age.
- Because of the sensitivity of this topic, we should talk in private.
- He did not understand the political sensitivity of his comments.
- The manager knows the sensitivity of pay talks with staff.
- Due to the sensitivity of the information, only a few people can see it.
- We must respect the sensitivity of this question for many families.
how strongly a device responds
how well a machine or test can find or measure very small signals or changes
the sensitivity of [a device/test/sensor]
- The new microphone offers much higher sensitivity at low volumes.
- By increasing the sensitivity of the sensor, the system can detect tiny movements.
- The camera's ISO setting controls its sensitivity to light.
- Researchers evaluated the sensitivity of the blood test for early-stage disease.
- Users can adjust the touchpad sensitivity in the settings menu.
- We can change the sensitivity of the touch screen in the app.
- This camera has good sensitivity to light in dark rooms.
- The lab improved the sensitivity of their test equipment.
- High sensitivity in the sensor helps find very small leaks.
- The doctor talked about the sensitivity of the new blood test.
ability of a test to find cases
in medical and other tests, how many people who really have a disease are correctly found by the test
the sensitivity of [a diagnostic test]
- The screening tool has high sensitivity but relatively low specificity.
- Researchers calculated the sensitivity of the test based on data from 500 patients.
- Improving the sensitivity of early cancer tests could save many lives.
- Low sensitivity means that many true cases will be missed.
- The paper reports a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 88%.
- The doctor said the new test has high sensitivity for this disease.
- Low sensitivity means the test may miss sick people.
- They studied the sensitivity and specificity of the exam.
- Researchers want better sensitivity in tests for early cancer.
- The article explains the sensitivity of the blood test in simple words.
- Base: sensitivity
- Plural: sensitivities, sensitivity
cultural sensitivity
1awareness and respect for cultures
care and understanding about the ideas, customs, and feelings of people from other cultures
- The company offers workshops on cultural sensitivity for all employees.
- Teachers need cultural sensitivity when working in multicultural classrooms.
- Lack of cultural sensitivity in the ad campaign led to public criticism.
light sensitivity
1eyes hurt in bright light
a problem where bright light hurts your eyes or makes you feel sick or uncomfortable
- After the concussion, he experienced severe light sensitivity.
- Migraine patients often report light sensitivity during an attack.
- Her light sensitivity means she always wears sunglasses outdoors.
sensitivity training
1course on respecting differences
a class or program that helps people learn to understand and respect other people's feelings, cultures, or identities
- New employees must complete sensitivity training in their first three months.
- The company introduced sensitivity training after complaints about rude behavior.
- Sensitivity training can improve communication in diverse workplaces.
show sensitivity to
1act with care for others' feelings
to behave in a kind and careful way because you understand another person's feelings or needs
- She showed great sensitivity to the child's fear of hospitals.
- Politicians must show sensitivity to public opinion on this issue.
- Good leaders show sensitivity to the stress their teams are under.
skin sensitivity
1easily irritated skin
a problem where a person's skin reacts strongly or badly to things like soap, clothes, or cold air
- People with skin sensitivity should avoid strong perfumes and dyes.
- Her skin sensitivity became worse in winter.
- The cream is designed for users with skin sensitivity.