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callous

adjective/ˈkæləs/

definition

showing a cruel disregard for others; emotionally insensitive

example

His callous disregard for the suffering of others shocked everyone at the charity event.

synonyms
insensitiveunfeelingheartless
word origin — From Latin 'callosus', meaning 'hard or tough', derived from 'callus', meaning 'thickened skin'.

callous, mundane, ascendant, imaginary, nonpartisan: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 49. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. callous · adjective/ˈkæləs/

    showing a cruel disregard for others; emotionally insensitive

    His callous disregard for the suffering of others shocked everyone at the charity event.

    Synonyms: insensitive, unfeeling, heartless

    Origin: From Latin 'callosus', meaning 'hard or tough', derived from 'callus', meaning 'thickened skin'.

  2. mundane · adjective/mʌnˈdeɪn/

    lacking interest or excitement dull and ordinary

    Despite the beauty of the city, she found her daily routines to be quite mundane and unexciting.

    Synonyms: ordinary, dull, commonplace

    Origin: The word 'mundane' comes from the Latin 'mundanus', meaning 'belonging to the world', derived from 'mundus', meaning 'world'.

  3. ascendant · adjective/əˈsɛndənt/

    rising in power or influence

    In today's political landscape, the ascendant party has begun to implement sweeping reforms that reflect their growing influence.

    Synonyms: rising, upward, emerging

    Origin: The word 'ascendant' comes from the Latin 'ascendens', the present participle of 'ascendere', which means 'to climb up'.

  4. imaginary · adjective/ɪˈmædʒ.ɪ.nɛr.i/

    existing only in the imagination not real or tangible

    Children often create imaginary friends to play with when they feel lonely.

    Synonyms: fictitious, fanciful, unreal

    Origin: From Latin 'imaginarius', meaning 'pertaining to the imagination', derived from 'imaginari' which means 'to imagine'.

  5. nonpartisan · adjective/nɑnˈpɑrtɪzən/

    not biased or partisan in favor of any particular political party or group

    The nonpartisan organization conducted a thorough analysis of the election to ensure that all viewpoints were represented fairly.

    Synonyms: neutral, impartial, unbiased

    Origin: Originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'partisan' from Middle French 'partisan', meaning 'a member of a political party'.