hypersensitive

/ˌhaɪpəˈsensətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhaɪpərˈsensətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌhī-pər-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv/ (ame, mw)

hypersensitive — adjective

  • hypersensitivepositive
  • more hypersensitivecomparative
  • most hypersensitivesuperlative

1. reacting with strong hurt feelings or anger to even mild criticism, teasing, or

1.形容詞C1
釋義

reacting with strong hurt feelings or anger to even mild criticism, teasing, or anything seen as a personal attack

例句

Takeshi is hypersensitive to feedback, so his manager rehearses each comment carefully.

hypersensitive to + noun (feedback)

After Allison's divorce, she became hypersensitive whenever friends mentioned weddings.

hypersensitive whenever + clause (trigger context)

同義詞
  • touchy

    informal; suggests quick to take offence on small things

  • thin-skinned

    vivid metaphor; same emotional fragility but more conversational

  • oversensitive

    near-synonym; slightly softer judgement

  • defensive

    focuses on the protective reaction rather than the fragility itself

反義詞

文法句型

hypersensitive to + noun

用法筆記

Frequently followed by 'to' (criticism, feedback) or 'about' (a specific topic). Carries a mildly negative judgement — the speaker is suggesting the reaction is out of proportion.

常見錯誤

❌I am hypersensitive of his words.
✅I am hypersensitive to his words.
💡the standard preposition is 'to' (or 'about' for topics), not 'of'.
❌She is very hypersensitive person.
✅She is a very hypersensitive person.
💡like other adjectives, it needs the article 'a' before a singular countable noun.

2. reacting unusually strongly at a body or material level to something that barely

2.形容詞C1
釋義

reacting unusually strongly at a body or material level to something that barely affects most people — for example a certain drug, food, or bright light

例句

Indra is hypersensitive to penicillin, so doctors prescribe a different antibiotic for her.

hypersensitive to + drug name (medical context)

After the eye surgery, Tariq's eyes were hypersensitive to sunlight for two weeks.

hypersensitive to + sunlight/light

同義詞
  • allergic

    specific to immune reactions; narrower than hypersensitive

  • reactive

    neutral term; common in chemistry and medical writing

  • intolerant

    of food, drugs; suggests inability to handle the substance

反義詞
  • tolerant

    able to handle the substance without a strong reaction

  • resistant

    of the body or material; unaffected by the stimulus

文法句型

hypersensitive to + noun (substance/stimulus)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a body or device reacting too strongly, not feelings being hurt. Usually paired with 'to' + a substance (drug, food, allergen) or stimulus (light, sound, heat). Also extends to equipment (sensors, microphones) that respond to very small inputs.

常見錯誤

❌My dog has hypersensitive for grass pollen.
✅My dog is hypersensitive to grass pollen.
💡use 'is/are hypersensitive to', not 'has hypersensitive'.
❌The skin is hypersensitive against detergent.
✅The skin is hypersensitive to detergent.
💡the standard preposition is 'to', not 'against'.