is insensitive to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is insensitive to" is correct and can be used in written English to describe someone or something that does not show empathy or consideration towards others.
Example: "Sheila's comment was insensitive to my feelings, as she didn't take into account how her words would affect me."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

European diplomats think it is insensitive to Europe's concerns.

The New Yorker

Being a pairwise measurement, FLImP is insensitive to monomers.

Nature

The accuracy is insensitive to α when 0.08 ≤ α ≤ 0.2.

Nature

It's not that the court is insensitive to excessive punishments.

The New York Times

Besides, the half-metallicity is insensitive to N vacancies.

Physics Letters A

This parameter is insensitive to scattering albedos and phase functions.

Chemical Engineering Journal

The accuracy of the new theorem is insensitive to noise.

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

The tensile strength is insensitive to the stacking sequence.

Materials & Design (1980-2015)

And the coupling loss is insensitive to tilt angle.

Optics Communications

Remarkably, this reaction is insensitive to inhibition by glyphosate.

FEBS Letters

But this method is insensitive to parameter changes.

Mathematical and Computer Modelling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In social settings, ensure the subject is clearly defined, as this phrase often implies a moral judgment about empathy.

Common error

Do not use "is insensitive to" when you mean "is unable to". Insensitivity implies a lack of response to a stimulus that is present, whereas inability refers to a lack of capacity to perform a function.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is insensitive to" functions as a predicate adjective construction used to describe a lack of responsiveness, awareness, or emotional reaction. According to Ludwig, it typically connects a subject (a person, a policy, or a scientific variable) to a stimulus or factor that fails to elicit a change or reaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is insensitive to" is an essential tool in both academic and general English. According to Ludwig, its primary strength lies in its ability to describe a lack of reaction in two distinct ways: technically, as a measure of robustness (where a system does not change despite external noise), and socially, as a critique of emotional disregard. It is widely considered grammatically correct and is highly frequent in authoritative sources such as Nature and The New York Times. When using this phrase, writers should be mindful of the tone; in technical contexts, it is often a positive attribute of stability, while in human contexts, it is typically negative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is indifferent to

Suggests a conscious lack of interest or concern in social contexts.

is unaffected by

Used predominantly in technical writing to show that a variable does not change.

is unresponsive to

Implies a failure to react to a specific stimulus or treatment.

is oblivious to

Suggests a lack of awareness or failure to notice something.

is impervious to

A stronger term meaning unable to be affected or disturbed.

is immune to

Metaphorical or literal protection from an effect.

is blind to

Metaphorical usage for someone who refuses to acknowledge a fact or emotion.

is resilient to

A more positive framing, suggesting the subject can withstand pressure.

is callous toward

Used specifically for cruel or heartless disregard for others.

is independent of

Technical synonym showing no correlation between two variables.

FAQs

How to use "is insensitive to" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe data, like "the algorithm "is insensitive to" noise", or people, like "the manager "is insensitive to" employee needs".

What can I say instead of "is insensitive to"?

Depending on your context, you can use "is unaffected by", "is unresponsive to", or "is indifferent to".

What is the difference between "is insensitive to" and "is unaffected by"?

While often interchangeable in science, "is unaffected by" is strictly neutral, whereas "is insensitive to" can sometimes imply a failure to detect a signal in technical contexts.

Is "is insensitive to" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, as shown by Ludwig, it is a standard term in scientific journals like Nature to describe robust systems that are "is insensitive to" certain parameters.