sensitize

sensitize (someone or something) to (something)

1. To make someone or something more sensitive or reactive to something. Part of cognitive behavioral therapy is sensitizing yourself to the things in life that trigger your anxiety, then taking active steps to confront or cope with them. The aim of this program is to sensitize our employees to dangers in the workplace that they may be overlooking.

2. To increase or intensify the effect something has on someone or something; to make someone or something hypersensitive to something. Living with such emotionally abusive parents sensitized her to aggression and the threat of violence from a very young age. Living in such a quiet, rural town really sensitized me to the maddening ubiquitous lights and sounds that you find in a city like New York.

3. To make someone or something more aware, understanding, or receptive of something. The experience sensitized me to the social injustices faced by many minority demographics. The aim of this program is to sensitize our employees to dangers in the workplace that they may be overlooking. He continually tried to sensitize the jury to the flawed evidence that had been collected by the state in order to undermine their case.

See also: sensitize, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

sensitize someone to something

 

1. to make a person have an allergic reaction to something. Frequent exposure to the chemical sensitized Harry to it and made him get a rash. He became sensitized to pet dander.

2. to make someone more thoughtful and receptive to something. We want to sensitize you to the feelings of other people. He never became sensitized to the needs of others.

See also: sensitize, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.