desensitize (redirected from desensitizes)

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.

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desensitize or -tise

Verb

[-tizing, -tized] or -tising, -tised to make insensitive or less sensitive: the patient was desensitized to the allergen, to desensitize photographic film

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	desensitize - cause not to be sensitive; "The war desensitized many soldiers"; "The photographic plate was desensitized" desensitise alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" benumb, numb, blunt, dull - make numb or insensitive; "The shock numbed her senses" bedaze, daze, stun - overcome as with astonishment or disbelief; "The news stunned her" besot, stupefy - make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation deaf, deafen - make or render deaf; "a deafening noise" sensitise, sensitize - cause to sense; make sensitive; "She sensitized me with respect to gender differences in this traditional male-dominated society"; "My tongue became sensitized to good wine"
	2.	desensitize - make insensitive; "His military training desensitized him" desensitise alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" sensibilise, sensibilize, sensify, sensitize, sensitise - make sensitive or aware; "He was not sensitized to her emotional needs"