desensitizer
|de-sen-si-ti-zer|
🇺🇸
/diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪzər/
🇬🇧
/diːˈsensɪtaɪzə/
(desensitize)
reduce sensitivity
Etymology
'desensitizer' originates from English, specifically the verb 'desensitize', where 'de-' meant 'remove or reduce' and 'sensitize' meant 'to make sensitive' (from French 'sensibiliser' and ultimately Latin 'sensus'/'sentire' meaning 'feel').
'desensitizer' developed from the verb 'desensitize' (formed by adding the agent suffix '-er' to the verb). 'Desensitize' itself was formed by combining the prefix 'de-' with 'sensitize' (from French 'sensibiliser', from Latin roots related to 'sensus' and 'sentire'); the noun form with '-er' became common in technical and medical English in the 20th century.
Initially it referred specifically to reducing physical sensitivity ('to remove sensitivity'), but over time it broadened to include reducing emotional responsiveness and lowering sensitivity in various technical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an agent or substance used to reduce physical sensitivity, especially to pain or allergic reaction (e.g., a dental desensitizer applied to reduce tooth sensitivity). Also: a product used to decrease the sensitivity of a material or tissue.
The dentist applied a desensitizer to the patient's teeth before bonding.
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Noun 2
something (or someone) that reduces emotional responsiveness or sensitivity, often by repeated exposure (e.g., media that makes viewers less affected by violence).
Some researchers argue that violent films can act as desensitizers toward real-world aggression.
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Noun 3
a chemical or additive used in industrial or technical processes to lower the sensitivity of a compound or material (e.g., in handling explosives or photographic chemicals).
To make transport safer, the compound was mixed with a desensitizer to reduce its explosive sensitivity.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 14:47