Sensitive
Easily affected by external stimuli or feelings; having or displaying keen perception or sensitivity; requiring careful handling or confidentiality.
adjectiveSensitive
Easily affected by external stimuli or feelings; having or displaying keen perception or sensitivity; requiring careful handling or confidentiality.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a student in a loud cafeteria who flinches at every clap and notices when a friend is upset, choosing words carefully to avoid causing offense.
Sounds Like
SEN-si-tiv
Looks Like
Looks like sense + ive; visually related to the word sense and to sensations
Remember This
The root sense is tied to feeling. Sensitive often collocates with information (sensitive data) and with physical or emotional receptiveness.
Other Forms
Connect With
perceptive, delicate, tactful, vulnerable, susceptible, receptive
Note
Do not confuse with sensory (relating to the senses) or sensation (a physical feeling). Be careful with phrases: 'sensitive to' (affected by) vs 'sensitive about' (easily offended).