desensitize
/diːˈsɛnsɪtʌɪz
/(also desensitise)
verb [with object]
1Make less sensitive: creams to desensitize the skin at the site of the injection...
- Capsaicin first activates the pain receptors, causing a mild burning sensation, but upon repeated application to the skin it desensitizes the receptors and relieves the pain.
- Applying lidocaine cream to your forehead may relieve migraine pain by desensitizing the nerves that trigger it.
- Achieving good flavor qualities in an ice cream presents specific challenges: low temperature desensitizes or dulls the taste buds, so a potent flavor is required.
1.1Make (someone) less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty or suffering by overexposure to such images: (as adjective desensitized) people who view such movies become desensitized to violence...
- People are desensitized to violence - you see so much of it on a regular basis on TV and in the movies, or you see these stories on the news about people dying from gun crime, but it doesn't sink in.
- Are we being desensitized to these graphic pictures?
- And yet, as a whole, people are so desensitized to the whole idea of explosions and molecules that they barely even stop to think about how this could effect the world.
1.2Free (someone) from a phobia or neurosis by gradually exposing them to the thing that is feared. See systematic desensitization.The goal is to modify dysfunctional cognitions and to desensitize patients to the fear and anxiety associated with certain situations....
- At this time, the patient is open to suggestion, and can be desensitised towards fears, phobias, pain and personal issues.
- This finding may have therapeutic applications; however, it may also be applicable in advertising to desensitize fear of a dangerous product, such as cigarettes.
Derivatives
desensitization
/ noun ...- Would you say that bringing emotion into the story, letting the reporter speak from the heart, is also helping avoid the desensitization?
- I believe in the effect of an increasing desensitization of people towards violence, and I believe that violent images of women are damaging.
- Many other studies show marked changes in aggressive and deviant attitudes resulting from pornographic desensitization.
desensitizer
/ noun ...- Its portability allows the desensitizer to be placed on either side or any position from the operator.
- Many patients have purposely put off dental work until this desensitizer is available.
- The potassium acts as a desensitiser in cases of dental hypersensitivity.