intermediate Level

Callous

Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

Synonyms

Heartlessunfeelingcoldhard-bitten

Antonyms

Compassionatesensitivekind

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About "Callous"

Callous is a vocabulary word commonly tested on the SAT Reading and Writing sections. The word means "Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others." Understanding this term and being able to recognize it in context is essential for achieving a high score on the verbal portions of the Digital SAT.

Synonyms Explained

Words that share similar meanings with Callous include Heartless, unfeeling, cold, hard-bitten. On the SAT, you may be asked to identify which word best replaces Callous in a given sentence. Knowing these synonyms will help you quickly recognize the correct answer, especially in Words in Context questions.

Antonyms and Contrast

The opposite of Callous includes words like Compassionate and sensitive and kind. Understanding antonyms is crucial for questions that test your ability to identify contrasting ideas in passages. When you see transition words like "however" or "nevertheless," look for these contrasting meanings.

SAT Test Strategy

When encountering Callous on the SAT, pay attention to context clues in the surrounding sentences. The test often provides hints through parallel structure, examples, or explanatory phrases. Practice identifying this word in different contexts to build your recognition speed and accuracy. This word is classified at the intermediate level, making it a commonly tested word for SAT preparation.