desensitization

de·sen·si·tize  (d-sns-tz)

tr.v. de·sen·si·tized, de·sen·si·tiz·ing, de·sen·si·tiz·es

1. To render insensitive or less sensitive.

2. Immunology To make (an individual) nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen.

3. To make emotionally insensitive or unresponsive, as by long exposure or repeated shocks: "This movie in effect may resensitize people who thought they were desensitized to violence" (Steven Spielberg).

4. To make (a photographic film or substance) less sensitive to light.

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de·sensi·ti·zation (-t-zshn) n.

de·sensi·tizer n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

desensitization - the process of reducing sensitivity; "the patient was desensitized to the allergen" desensitisation decrease, decrement - a process of becoming smaller or shorter