Unempfindlichen

Unempfindlich is a German adjective meaning not easily affected by physical stimuli or emotional input; in English, it is often translated as insensitive or numb. The term can describe a wide range of sensitivities, from the sensory capacity of body tissues to the emotional responsiveness of a person. In medical and scientific contexts, unempfindlich is used to indicate reduced or absent sensation, for example unempfindliche Haut (insensitive skin) or unempfindliche Nerven (insensitive nerves). In everyday language, it can describe a person who shows little emotional reaction or who appears indifferent, though the use may carry a negative connotation when criticizing empathy or consideration.

Etymology and usage notes: unempfindlich is formed with the negating prefix un- attached to empfinden, the verb meaning to feel. The word is declined like a standard German adjective and appears in various case and number forms. The form unempfindlichen occurs in several grammatical contexts, such as dem unempfindlichen Mann (dative singular masculine), der unempfindlichen Frau (genitive singular feminine), or den unempfindlichen Männern (dative plural). In definite contexts, the endings follow the usual adjective declension patterns, for example die unempfindliche Haut or die unempfindlichen Reize.

Related terms: unempfindlichkeit (insensitivity, lack of sensation), empfindlich (sensitive), and empfindsam (sensitive in a more nuanced or sentimental sense). Synonyms for the moral or social sense include gefühllos and gleichgültig, while antipodes include sensibel and feinfühlig.

See also: Empfindlichkeit, Empfinden, adjectives with negation prefixes in German. The term is generally neutral in reference to physical sensation but may carry evaluative weight when applied to people or social behavior.