SENSIBILITY Definition & Meaning

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sensibility

[sen-suh-bil-i-tee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

sensibilities

capacity for sensation or feeling; responsiveness or susceptibility to sensory stimuli.
mental susceptibility or responsiveness; quickness and acuteness of apprehension or feeling.
Synonyms: ,
keen consciousness or appreciation.
sensibilities, emotional capacities.
Sometimes sensibilities. liability to feel hurt or offended; sensitive feelings.
Often sensibilities. capacity for intellectual and aesthetic distinctions, feelings, tastes, etc..
a man of refined sensibilities.
the property, as in plants or instruments, of being readily affected by external influences.

sensibility

/ ˌ��ɛ�Բ�ɪˈ��ɪ��ɪ��ɪ /

noun

the ability to perceive or feel
(often plural) the capacity for responding to emotion, impression, etc
(often plural) the capacity for responding to aesthetic stimuli
mental responsiveness; discernment; awareness
(usually plural) emotional or moral feelings
cruelty offends most people's sensibilities
the condition of a plant of being susceptible to external influences, esp attack by parasites

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

hypersensibility noun
nonsensibility noun
unsensibility noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of sensibility¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English sensibilite, from Middle French, from Late Latin ��ŧ�Բ��. See sensible, -ity

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Synonym Study

Sensibility, susceptibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity refer to capacity to respond to or be affected by something. Sensibility is, particularly, capacity to respond to aesthetic and emotional stimuli: the sensibility of the artist. Susceptibility is the state or quality of being impressionable and responsive, especially to emotional stimuli; in the plural it has much the same meaning as sensibility : a person of keen susceptibilities. Sensitiveness is the state or quality of being sensitive, of having a capacity of sensation and of responding to external stimuli: sensitiveness to light. Sensitivity is a special capability of being sensitive to physiological, chemical action or a tendency to be easily affected by the adverse reactions of others: the sensitivity of a nerve; sensitivity to criticism.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

McCarthy and his bandmates paired that sensibility with the new potential of electronic music, crafting a harsh and antagonistic style that moved like club music but hit like punk.

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And, like the house it hopes to capture and mythologize in equal measure, the pop-up book is a celebration of Willis’ own “more is more” sensibility.

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Outrageousness is an integral part of his sensibility, as his plays “Barbecue” and “Bootycandy” have made unabashedly clear.

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Both were crucial mental health resources during that dark time, and both found a wider embrace online for their niche comic sensibilities.

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Another project helped states develop their own prevention strategies tailored to local sensibilities; some focus on education and training, others on beefing up enforcement and intelligence sharing.

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Related 51�Թ�s

affection��
emotion��
feeling��
insight��
sense��
sensitivity��
sentiment��
taste��

sensibilia sensible

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