How to pronounce desensitize
Say it like dee-SEN-sih-tyze. Desensitize has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce desensitize. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dee
- SEN
- sih
- tyze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Desensitize pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tyzeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of desensitize
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: dee-SEN-sih-tyze.
What does desensitize mean?
- To render (someone) emotionally or sensationally less responsive or irresponsive, as by long or repeated exposure to something.“Working in an Operating Room desensitized me to the sight of blood.”
- To render (a person or animal) nonreactive or insensitive to an allergen.
- To render (a photographic plate or film) less sensitive or insensitive to actinic rays of light.
Where does desensitize come from?
From de- (“not, do the opposite of, undo”) + sensitize.
Questions about saying desensitize
How do you pronounce desensitize?
Say dee-SEN-sih-tyze. The American pronunciation is /diˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/. In British English it is /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in desensitize?
Desensitize has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: dee · SEN · sih · tyze.
Is desensitize pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /diːˈsɛnsɪtaɪz/ (dee-SEN-sih-tyze).