calloused

IPA/ˈkæləst/
KK[kˈæləst]IPA/ˈkæləst/

calloused — adjective

  • callousedpositive
  • more callousedcomparative
  • most callousedsuperlative

1. describing hands, feet, or other skin that has become thick and hard after repea

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing hands, feet, or other skin that has become thick and hard after repeated rubbing or heavy physical work

Example

After months on the rowing team, Quinn's palms became calloused.

calloused palms from repeated friction

The farmer's calloused hands gripped the shovel before sunrise.

collocation: calloused hands

Common collocations
  • calloused hands
  • calloused palms
  • calloused feet
  • calloused skin
Synonyms
  • hardened

    broader and can describe many materials, not just skin

  • toughened

    focuses on becoming stronger or more resistant, often through use

  • rough

    describes texture in general and does not always imply thick skin

Antonyms
  • soft

    not thick or hardened from friction

  • smooth

    without the hard, raised patches that calloused skin has

Usage Note

Usually describes skin on the hands or feet after repeated friction or manual work, not a single brief activity. It is most natural when the cause is easy to picture, such as rowing, digging, climbing, or dancing.

Common Mistakes

My hands were calloused after one hour of painting.
My hands felt sore after one hour of painting.
'calloused' suggests thick skin that develops over time, not discomfort after a short activity.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Calloused is the most specific of these words because it refers to skin that has become thick and hard from repeated rubbing or hard work. Hardened is broader and can describe skin, attitudes, metal, or other materials, so it does not automatically suggest raised patches of skin. Rough often describes a surface that does not feel smooth, but rough skin may simply be dry or uneven rather than thickened into calluses. Toughened emphasizes increased strength or resistance, especially after training or repeated use, and may be used for both people and materials. If a guitarist has calloused fingertips, the focus is on the hard skin itself; if training has toughened her hands, the focus is on increased resistance to pain or damage.

hardened ↗rough ↗toughened ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • calloused hands
  • calloused feet
  • become calloused
  • grow calloused

Prepositions

  • from (calloused from rowing)
  • with (calloused with years of labor)

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Calloused comes from the noun and verb callus, which ultimately goes back to Latin callum or callus, meaning thick or hardened skin. The adjective adds the -ed ending to describe skin that has developed those hard patches through repeated pressure or rubbing.

First known use

1793

1793, in the meaning defined above