Basic Details
Word: Callous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Showing no concern for others; unfeeling or insensitive.
Synonyms: Heartless, insensitive, uncaring
Antonyms: Compassionate, empathetic, caring
Idioms and Phrases
- Callous to the core: Someone who is deeply unfeeling and indifferent. Example: "His callousness to the plight of the homeless showed that he was callous to the core."
- Steel-cold heart: Referring to someone who is emotionally unresponsive. Example: "Despite her friends troubles, she remained distant, with her steel-cold heart unsoftened."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The callous remarks made by the student during class hurt many of his classmates.
Example 2: She was shocked to see how callous the manager was when he ignored the employees complaints.
Example 3: His callous behaviour towards the victims of the disaster drew criticism from the community.
Fun Fact
The word "callous" comes from the Latin word "callosus," which means "hard-skinned." This originally described a physical hardness of the skin, but over time, it evolved to describe emotional insensitivity.
Famous Quote
"A callous wound may sometimes heal, but the scar is always there to remind you." Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "callous" mean?
a) Emotionally caring
b) Insensitive and unfeeling
c) Highly intelligent
d) Very friendly
Answer: b) Insensitive and unfeeling
2. Which of these is a synonym of "callous"?
a) Compassionate
b) Heartless
c) Sensitive
d) Caring
Answer: b) Heartless
3. Which sentence uses "callous" correctly?
a) The callous athlete hugged his team after winning the match.
b) The callous teacher listened to her students attentively.
c) The callous comments were hurtful to many students.
d) The callous puppy played joyfully with its owner.
Answer: c) The callous comments were hurtful to many students.
4. Which idiom means the same as "callous"?
a) Steel-cold heart
b) Gentle as a lamb
c) A warm welcome
d) On cloud nine
Answer: a) Steel-cold heart
5. What is the opposite of "callous"?
a) N/A
b) Indifferent
c) Compassionate
d) Both b and c
Answer: c) Compassionate
