hypersensitive

adjective

hy·​per·​sen·​si·​tive ˌhī-pər-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv How to pronounce hypersensitive (audio)
1
: excessively or abnormally sensitive
2
: abnormally susceptible physiologically to a specific agent (such as a drug or antigen)
hypersensitiveness noun

Examples of hypersensitive in a Sentence

She's hypersensitive about her past. People who are hypersensitive to the chemical may have violent reactions even to small amounts.
Recent Examples on the Web Another contributing factor is that individuals who are hypersensitive to any general stimulating factor may experience migraine attacks more frequently. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024 In this latest study, researchers clearly implicate senescent osteoclasts in the endplates of the spine with an increase in pores, leading to the formation of new hypersensitive nerves. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 During migraine headache attacks, inflammation around the blood vessels in say, the dura, makes the pain fibers hypersensitive, Collins notes. Brittany Edelmann, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 Some people might become hypersensitive to the elements present in makeup, resulting in symptoms such as redness, itching and swelling. Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2023 Stray Dog Found with Tumor Larger than His Head Gets Mass Removed and Finds a Home After arriving at Lifelong Veterinary Clinic, Dozer was unable to move his rear limbs and was dull and hypersensitive. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 14 Oct. 2023 Microglia release many substances that cause pain neurons to become hypersensitive after nerve injury, but their unexpected action on PNNs has a major advantage: specificity. Quanta Magazine, 28 July 2022 Being hypersensitive will not serve your interests near the 22nd, and after Mercury turns direct on the 23rd, others will become more communicative. Katharine Merlin, Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2023 In some cases, doctors may still use cisplatin to treat patients — for instance, in those who are hypersensitive to carboplatin. Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 16 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypersensitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypersensitive was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near hypersensitive

Cite this Entry

“Hypersensitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypersensitive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hypersensitive

adjective
hy·​per·​sen·​si·​tive ˌhī-pər-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv How to pronounce hypersensitive (audio)
-ˈsen(t)-stiv
: very sensitive especially to an abnormal degree
hypersensitiveness noun

Medical Definition

hypersensitive

adjective
hy·​per·​sen·​si·​tive ˌhī-pər-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv, -ˈsen(t)-stiv How to pronounce hypersensitive (audio)
1
: excessively or abnormally sensitive
2
: abnormally susceptible physiologically to a specific agent (as a drug or antigen)
hypersensitiveness noun
hypersensitivity noun
plural hypersensitivities

More from Merriam-Webster on hypersensitive

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