Is there a term for the phenomenon of people becoming desensitized to people's suffering? See body for full...

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Is there a term for the phenomenon of people becoming desensitized to people's suffering, or used to dealing with it without becoming emotionally entangled or upset, in the way that, say, doctors or policemen or even firemen do? I am sure I have heard someone say something like
"When you see it every day you become <this word>".
I don't mean detached or dissonant, and I can't find what I'm looking for in the standard thesauruses (thesauri ?). Please help, it's bugging me that I can't remember it.
single-word-requests
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Is there a term for the phenomenon of people becoming desensitized to people's suffering, or used to dealing with it without becoming emotionally entangled or upset, in the way that, say, doctors or policemen or even firemen do? I am sure I have heard someone say something like
"When you see it every day you become <this word>".
I don't mean detached or dissonant, and I can't find what I'm looking for in the standard thesauruses (thesauri ?). Please help, it's bugging me that I can't remember it.
single-word-requests
New contributor
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
Is there a term for the phenomenon of people becoming desensitized to people's suffering, or used to dealing with it without becoming emotionally entangled or upset, in the way that, say, doctors or policemen or even firemen do? I am sure I have heard someone say something like
"When you see it every day you become <this word>".
I don't mean detached or dissonant, and I can't find what I'm looking for in the standard thesauruses (thesauri ?). Please help, it's bugging me that I can't remember it.
single-word-requests
New contributor
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Is there a term for the phenomenon of people becoming desensitized to people's suffering, or used to dealing with it without becoming emotionally entangled or upset, in the way that, say, doctors or policemen or even firemen do? I am sure I have heard someone say something like
"When you see it every day you become <this word>".
I don't mean detached or dissonant, and I can't find what I'm looking for in the standard thesauruses (thesauri ?). Please help, it's bugging me that I can't remember it.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
New contributor
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago


Cascabel
8,13662856
8,13662856
New contributor
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asked 3 hours ago
Dick_KnippleDick_Knipple
62
62
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Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Dick_Knipple is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago
What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
An alternative to desensitized is inured
verb (used with object), in·ured, in·ur·ing.
to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed by to):
inured to cold.
The two words mean essentially the same thing, however desensitization has more of a clinical tone to it.
add a comment |
I guess, you are either looking for immune, untouched, or uninfluenced.
Using your sentence: When you see it every day you become immune to it.
NOTE: Here, immune is used figuratively.
OR
When you see it every day you become untouched by it.
OR
When you see it every day you become uninfluenced by it.
add a comment |
The simple adjective numb is often used to describe the person who has been desensitized in this fashion. "She had become numb to their sufferings."
They could see their own death and the death of thousands of others
ahead of them, but they had become numb to suffering, perhaps numb to
moral discourse.
Google Books
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
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votes
An alternative to desensitized is inured
verb (used with object), in·ured, in·ur·ing.
to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed by to):
inured to cold.
The two words mean essentially the same thing, however desensitization has more of a clinical tone to it.
add a comment |
An alternative to desensitized is inured
verb (used with object), in·ured, in·ur·ing.
to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed by to):
inured to cold.
The two words mean essentially the same thing, however desensitization has more of a clinical tone to it.
add a comment |
An alternative to desensitized is inured
verb (used with object), in·ured, in·ur·ing.
to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed by to):
inured to cold.
The two words mean essentially the same thing, however desensitization has more of a clinical tone to it.
An alternative to desensitized is inured
verb (used with object), in·ured, in·ur·ing.
to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed by to):
inured to cold.
The two words mean essentially the same thing, however desensitization has more of a clinical tone to it.
edited 1 min ago
answered 10 mins ago


samgaksamgak
1,692913
1,692913
add a comment |
add a comment |
I guess, you are either looking for immune, untouched, or uninfluenced.
Using your sentence: When you see it every day you become immune to it.
NOTE: Here, immune is used figuratively.
OR
When you see it every day you become untouched by it.
OR
When you see it every day you become uninfluenced by it.
add a comment |
I guess, you are either looking for immune, untouched, or uninfluenced.
Using your sentence: When you see it every day you become immune to it.
NOTE: Here, immune is used figuratively.
OR
When you see it every day you become untouched by it.
OR
When you see it every day you become uninfluenced by it.
add a comment |
I guess, you are either looking for immune, untouched, or uninfluenced.
Using your sentence: When you see it every day you become immune to it.
NOTE: Here, immune is used figuratively.
OR
When you see it every day you become untouched by it.
OR
When you see it every day you become uninfluenced by it.
I guess, you are either looking for immune, untouched, or uninfluenced.
Using your sentence: When you see it every day you become immune to it.
NOTE: Here, immune is used figuratively.
OR
When you see it every day you become untouched by it.
OR
When you see it every day you become uninfluenced by it.
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago


Ubi hattUbi hatt
4,8541730
4,8541730
add a comment |
add a comment |
The simple adjective numb is often used to describe the person who has been desensitized in this fashion. "She had become numb to their sufferings."
They could see their own death and the death of thousands of others
ahead of them, but they had become numb to suffering, perhaps numb to
moral discourse.
Google Books
add a comment |
The simple adjective numb is often used to describe the person who has been desensitized in this fashion. "She had become numb to their sufferings."
They could see their own death and the death of thousands of others
ahead of them, but they had become numb to suffering, perhaps numb to
moral discourse.
Google Books
add a comment |
The simple adjective numb is often used to describe the person who has been desensitized in this fashion. "She had become numb to their sufferings."
They could see their own death and the death of thousands of others
ahead of them, but they had become numb to suffering, perhaps numb to
moral discourse.
Google Books
The simple adjective numb is often used to describe the person who has been desensitized in this fashion. "She had become numb to their sufferings."
They could see their own death and the death of thousands of others
ahead of them, but they had become numb to suffering, perhaps numb to
moral discourse.
Google Books
answered 1 hour ago
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.5k23777
19.5k23777
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What about this word is better than desensitized? That seems as if it conveys what you're asking about pretty well.
– Jim Mack
3 hours ago
Possibly disinterested , it is not quite what most people assume.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Thanks for your input folks, it's not a case of 'better' really, it is that I know there is a word that I can't remember, and I am hoping that someone in this intelligent community will know it and say "Oh, you mean ------", and I'll go yay <punches the air>, and can finally stop trying to recall it and get some sleep :-)
– Dick_Knipple
2 hours ago
I'm sorry, but these kinds of questions i.e. "I'm thinking of a word...what is it?" do not do well here unless you can provide more context.
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Cascabel - I did provide a sentence with a blank in it. I'm not thinking of a word, I wouldn't need to ask for the group's help if I was. I am not trying "to do well", I am just hoping some people will provide useful answers, which others have!
– Dick_Knipple
1 hour ago