ultrasensitive
ultrasensitive — adjective
- ultrasensitivepositive
- more ultrasensitivecomparative
- most ultrasensitivesuperlative
1. describing a subject, topic, or situation that must be discussed with great care
describing a subject, topic, or situation that must be discussed with great care to avoid causing anger, embarrassment, or hurt feelings.
The committee agreed that layoffs were an ultrasensitive topic and decided to delay the announcement.
collocation: ultrasensitive topic / ultrasensitive subject
Faisal warned the team that the merger negotiations were still ultrasensitive and should not be mentioned outside the boardroom.
attributive use before a noun about a delicate issue
The principal told teachers the budget plan was an ultrasensitive issue and asked them not to discuss it in class.
Meera avoided mentioning the incident at dinner because it was an ultrasensitive subject for her grandparents.
- delicate
less intense; a broader range of 'needing care' contexts
- touchy
informal; describes a subject that quickly causes anger
- contentious
formal; suggests open disagreement rather than emotional risk
- safe
unlikely to upset anyone
- uncontroversial
not likely to cause debate
文法句型
ultrasensitive + noun (topic/issue/subject)
be + ultrasensitive
用法筆記
This sense is applied to ideas or subjects (not people). It often appears in workplace, political, or family contexts where the speaker wishes to avoid conflict.
常見錯誤
2. very easily upset, annoyed, or offended, often by small or imagined slights.
very easily upset, annoyed, or offended, often by small or imagined slights.
Shirin is ultrasensitive about her accent and feels hurt when anyone comments on it.
pattern: ultrasensitive about [something]
The counsellor explained that teenagers can be ultrasensitive to criticism from their peers.
pattern: ultrasensitive to [criticism/comments]
Andrei is ultrasensitive about his age and gets offended whenever anyone asks how old he is.
Hassan noticed that his daughter was ultrasensitive to rejection and would cry for hours if left out of a game.
- thin-skinned
informal; imagines a person lacking a protective layer against criticism
- oversensitive
nearly identical in meaning but slightly less strong
- touchy
informal; describes someone who reacts angrily to small things
- thick-skinned
not easily upset by criticism
- easygoing
relaxed and not bothered by minor issues
文法句型
be + ultrasensitive + about + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Describes a person's temperament, not a single reaction. Frequently used with the prepositions about or to. Compare with Sense 1, which describes a topic, not a person.
常見錯誤
3. having a physical reaction (such as an allergy, rash, or pain) to even a very sm
having a physical reaction (such as an allergy, rash, or pain) to even a very small amount of a substance or stimulus.
Nila discovered she was ultrasensitive to nickel when a pair of earrings caused her ears to swell and itch.
pattern: ultrasensitive to [allergen/substance]
The lab technician warned that the test strips are ultrasensitive to moisture and must be stored in a dry container.
medical/scientific context: physical reactivity to a stimulus
Ayana's skin is so ultrasensitive to sunscreen that she can only use a brand made for babies.
The gardener explained that the orchid was ultrasensitive to cold drafts and would drop its flowers near an open window.
- allergic
narrower — specific to immune-system reactions
- hypersensitive
formal medical term for an extreme physical response
- reactive
broad term for responding strongly to a trigger
文法句型
be + ultrasensitive + to + noun (substance/stimulus)
用法筆記
This sense describes a body's or substance's physical response, not an emotional one. Most common in medical and allergy contexts. The preposition to introduces the trigger.
常見錯誤
4. able to detect, measure, or record extremely small changes, amounts, or variatio
able to detect, measure, or record extremely small changes, amounts, or variations in a physical quantity.
The observatory installed an ultrasensitive telescope that can pick up light from galaxies billions of light-years away.
attributive use before a scientific instrument
Eitan designed a new microphone system that is ultrasensitive enough to capture a whisper across a large auditorium.
pattern: ultrasensitive enough to [do something]
Haruto calibrated the ultrasensitive scale in the chemistry lab so that it could measure a single grain of salt.
Maeve's team developed an ultrasensitive blood test that detects cancer markers at a much earlier stage.
- highly sensitive
more general; the most common phrase in technical writing
- precision
focuses on accuracy rather than the minimum detectable level
- fine-tuned
informal; emphasises careful calibration
- insensitive
unable to detect small changes
- coarse
only able to measure in large increments
文法句型
ultrasensitive + noun (instrument/detector/sensor)
be + ultrasensitive + enough to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense applies to equipment, instruments, and measuring devices. The object of detection is usually tiny or faint. Unlike the other senses, it carries a positive or neutral connotation — high precision is desirable.