- 1desensitize somebody/something (to something) to make someone or something less aware of something, especially a problem or something bad, by making them become used to it People are increasingly becoming desensitized to violence on television. Doctors and medical researchers have to become desensitized in order to do their jobs.
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- 2desensitize somebody/something (technology) to treat someone or something so that they will stop being sensitive to physical or chemical changes, or to a particular substance There is no effective vaccine to desensitize people who are allergic to fleas.
desensitize
verbNAmE//ˌdiˈsɛnsəˌtaɪz//
[usually passive]Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they desensitize he / she / it desensitizes
past simple desensitized
-ing form desensitizing
NAmE//ˌdiˌsɛnsət̮əˈzeɪʃn//
noun [uncountable]See desensitize in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: desensitize