CWClearWord Lab

Confusing Words

Sensible vs Sensitive

Sensible means practical and reasonable; sensitive means easily affected by emotions or outside things.

Quick Answer

Use 'sensible' for someone who makes good decisions. Use 'sensitive' for someone who feels emotions strongly or reacts easily to things like light or criticism.

Core Difference

Sensible is about being practical; sensitive is about being easily affected.

Simple Explanation

Sensible and sensitive look similar but have different meanings. A sensible person makes good, practical decisions. For example, 'It was sensible to bring an umbrella.' A sensitive person feels emotions deeply or is easily hurt. For example, 'She is sensitive to criticism.' Sensitive can also describe physical reactions, like 'sensitive skin' or 'sensitive to light.'

Word Details

sensible

adjective

having or showing good sense; practical

sensible + nounit is sensible to + verb

sensitive

adjective

easily upset or affected; aware of small changes

sensitive to + nounsensitive about + noun

Examples

sensible

Wearing a helmet is a sensible choice.

It shows good judgment.

sensible

She is a sensible woman who saves money.

She is practical.

sensible

That's a sensible idea.

The idea is reasonable.

sensitive

He is very sensitive about his height.

He gets upset easily about it.

sensitive

My skin is sensitive to the sun.

It reacts easily.

sensitive

She is sensitive to other people's feelings.

Sensitive can describe someone who notices or cares about feelings.

Practice Quiz

Choose one answer. Mistakes are saved for review.

1. A ______ person thinks carefully before making decisions.

2. Don't be so ______; I was just joking.

3. My teeth are ______ to cold drinks.

4. It's not ______ to spend all your money on games.

5. She is very ______ to other people's feelings.

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