as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the callous comment "It's just a fish," when the boy's pet died, made him cry
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Recent Examples of callous
The Gordons have been left deeply screwed up by their deceased father — not just callous and clueless like all the ultra-rich, but unable to maintain healthy relationships with either partners or one another.
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Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
The world that the Yellowjackets know is a callous and cruel one, and of course their survivors’ guilt would steer them toward believing in an entity that would never be satisfied.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
When Brittney Jade Dwyer was arrested and later convicted of murdering her own grandfather Robert Whitwell in a plot to steal his life savings, the callous crime shocked the entire country of Australia.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Any advice would be appreciated. — Not the Bestie
Dear Bestie: At the risk of sounding callous, this is not your problem.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
The world that the Yellowjackets know is a callous and cruel one, and of course their survivors’ guilt would steer them toward believing in an entity that would never be satisfied.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
When Brittney Jade Dwyer was arrested and later convicted of murdering her own grandfather Robert Whitwell in a plot to steal his life savings, the callous crime shocked the entire country of Australia.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Any advice would be appreciated. — Not the Bestie
Dear Bestie: At the risk of sounding callous, this is not your problem.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callous
Cite this Entry
“Callous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callous. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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