desensitize

/diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/

//diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"desensitize" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“desensitize” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.

Key facts for desensitize
PropertyValue
Headworddesensitize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “desensitize” sits in English frequency

desensitize falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

desensitize is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for desensitize in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From de- (“not, do the opposite of, undo”) + sensitize. First attested in the 1900s. The correct English form is desensitize, spelled D-E-S-E-N-S-I-T-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  2. 2
    To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  3. 3
    To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  4. 4
    To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
  5. 5
    To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.

Etymology

From de- (“not, do the opposite of, undo”) + sensitize. First attested in the 1900s.

This word in other languages

désensibiliser(Français)desensibilisieren(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "desensitize"?
"desensitize" is spelled D-E-S-E-N-S-I-T-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/.
What does "desensitize" mean?
As a verb, "desensitize" means: To reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of (someone) or in (something); to become insensitive.
How do you pronounce "desensitize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "desensitize" is /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "desensitize"?
From de- (“not, do the opposite of, undo”) + sensitize. First attested in the 1900s. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “desensitize”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-S-E-N-S-I-T-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list