callous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make insensitive or callous; deaden feelings or morals
    cauterise; cauterize.
  2. adjective satellite emotionally hardened
    pachydermatous; indurate.
    • a callous indifference to suffering
    • cold-blooded and indurate to public opinion
  3. adjective satellite having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear
    thickened; calloused.
    • calloused skin
    • with a workman's callous hands

WordNet

Cal"lous adjective
Etymology
L. callosus callous hard, fr. callum, callus, callous skin: cf. F. calleux.
Definitions
  1. Hardenes; indurated. "A callous hand." Goldsmith. "A callous ulcer." Dunglison.
  2. Hardened in mind; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. "The callous diplomatist." Macaulay.
    It is an immense blessing to be perfectly callous to ridicule. T. Arnold.
    Syn. -- Obdurate; hard; hardened; indurated; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. See Obdurate. -- Cal"lous*ly, adv. -- Cal"lous*ness, n.
    A callousness and numbness of soul. Bentley.

Webster 1913