hypersensitise

IPA/ˌhaɪ.pəˈsen.sɪ.taɪz/
IPA/ˌhaɪ.pɚˈsen.sə.taɪz/

hypersensitise — verb

  • hypersensitisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • hypersensitises3rd person singular
  • hypersensitising-ing form
  • hypersensitisedpast simple

1. to cause a person, animal, or organism to react in an extreme or exaggerated way

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to cause a person, animal, or organism to react in an extreme or exaggerated way to a substance, experience, or event that would normally produce only a mild or no reaction

Example

Working with industrial solvents for years had hypersensitised Ada's hands, so even mild soap causes a burning feeling.

hypersensitise + someone + to [stimulus]; often passive

The vaccine trial accidentally hypersensitised three volunteers to a protein in the formula, causing severe rashes.

Common collocations
  • hypersensitised immune system
  • hypersensitised skin
  • become/get hypersensitised to
  • hypersensitise someone/something to [stimulus]
Synonyms
  • sensitise

    a broader term for any increase in sensitivity, not necessarily to an extreme degree

  • allergise

    used specifically in medicine for making someone allergic to a normally harmless substance

  • prime

    used in immunology for preparing the immune system to respond, usually in a neutral or protective sense

Antonyms
  • desensitise

    to make less sensitive or to reduce the strength of a reaction

  • numb

    to cause a complete or partial loss of physical sensation

Grammar Patterns

hypersensitise + someone/something + to + [stimulus]

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice, especially in medical and immunological contexts. The spelling 'hypersensitize' is the standard American English variant and is more common overall.

Common Mistakes

She hypersensitised to the drug after many exposures.
She became hypersensitised to the drug after many exposures.
'hypersensitise' is transitive and requires an object; to describe a change in a person's state, use 'become/get hypersensitised' with a passive construction.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These verbs describe changes in how strongly a person or organism responds to a stimulus. 'Sensitise' is the broadest term, meaning to make more responsive — it can be neutral or even positive (e.g. 'sensitise the public to environmental issues'). 'Hypersensitise' goes further, implying an extreme, excessive reaction that is usually harmful. 'Allergise' is narrower, used specifically when the immune system develops an allergic response to a harmless substance. The opposite is 'desensitise', which reduces or eliminates sensitivity. For example, a doctor might say 'pollen can hypersensitise the airways' while allergy shots aim to 'desensitise the patient' over time.

sensitiseallergisedesensitise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • become hypersensitised to
  • leave someone hypersensitised
  • risk of becoming hypersensitised

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'hyper-' (from Greek 'huper', meaning 'over, beyond, excessive') to the verb 'sensitise' (which traces back to Latin 'sentire', meaning 'to feel'). The word entered English medical usage in the late 19th century as doctors described patients who developed extreme reactions to substances.

First known use

1897

1897, in the meaning defined above