as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
was so thick-skinned that she was clueless about the fact that the joke had hurt her friend's feelings
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Recent Examples of thick-skinned
The thick-skinned grapes are prone to fungal disease such as botrytis.
—
Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The formidable thick-skinned, long-furred beast occupied the mammoth steppe, a cold-dry grassland biome that existed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2024
Its small, thick-skinned berries make wine with strong tannins and high acidity, two components that aide in Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to age.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Haley has chosen instead to cast herself as a fighter who happens to be a woman, someone thick-skinned yet self-aware.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Thousands of apple varieties—crunchy, thick-skinned Fujis, which originated in Japan in the 1930s; aromatic Galas; and rare Pink Pearls—exist in the world today, many of them bred for their distinct flavor, color and texture.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023
Thankfully, the lake is ideal for thick-skinned lesser flamingos who visit the spot to put on weight before finding their mates.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
The thick-skinned Russets absorb seasonings, butter, and cream better than any other potato.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
My fridge is loaded with six varieties of grapes right now — some thick-skinned, super-sweet Japanese mini-globe-like jewels; pounds of Thomcords; and some good ol’ table grapes.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2023
Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The formidable thick-skinned, long-furred beast occupied the mammoth steppe, a cold-dry grassland biome that existed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2024
Its small, thick-skinned berries make wine with strong tannins and high acidity, two components that aide in Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to age.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Haley has chosen instead to cast herself as a fighter who happens to be a woman, someone thick-skinned yet self-aware.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Thousands of apple varieties—crunchy, thick-skinned Fujis, which originated in Japan in the 1930s; aromatic Galas; and rare Pink Pearls—exist in the world today, many of them bred for their distinct flavor, color and texture.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023
Thankfully, the lake is ideal for thick-skinned lesser flamingos who visit the spot to put on weight before finding their mates.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
The thick-skinned Russets absorb seasonings, butter, and cream better than any other potato.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
My fridge is loaded with six varieties of grapes right now — some thick-skinned, super-sweet Japanese mini-globe-like jewels; pounds of Thomcords; and some good ol’ table grapes.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thick-skinned
Adjective
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Related Stories Said to be the first book in a series, Little Hands watches as a young British woman with a mysterious past inadvertently joins a ruthless gang of female thieves who rob the ultra-wealthy along the French Riviera.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
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This is because the film, which Anderson both wrote (alongside Roman Coppola) and directed, centers on wealthy business tycoon Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), who, thanks to his often ruthless deal-making, has become a frequent target of assassination attempts.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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The film is cold-bloodedly whimsical, asking the audience to root for a merciless man who endeavors, ever so incrementally, to understand some deeper human truths.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2025
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Unless stopped, Trump and the Republicans who follow him may go down as the most merciless and morally bankrupt leaders this country has ever produced.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Their average vine has 30 years of age and is planted in stony limestone soils.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
12 June 2025
-
The steep, stony ground made cultivation challenging.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thick-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thick-skinned. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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