Sensitive vs sensible

Question

Can somebody explain me the difference between these two words?  Thank you.

Vorpar · Accepted Answer

Sensitive is physical or emotional. If your emotions are easily swayed, you are sensitive. If your sense of touch is very good, you are sensitive.

Sensible is mental. If you do things that make sense, you are sensible. "I was sensible when I bought clothes. I didn't buy the designer clothes because they were too expensive."

Lionheart · Answer

While these two words may sound similar, they actually have little, if anything, in common. Let me post the definitions as retreived from AskOxford.com:

Sensitive: • adjective 1 quick to detect, respond to, or be affected by slight changes, signals, or influences. 2 delicately appreciating the feelings of others. 3 easily offended or upset. 4 kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure.

Here are some examples:
The back of your hand is one of the most sensitive parts of your body.
The nurse was sensitive to her patient's needs.
He walked off in a huff. He can be so sensitive sometimes.
The CEO hid the sensitive documents under his coat. (Must be a quote from the Enron trial! Ha!)

Sensible: • adjective 1 wise and prudent; having or showing common sense. 2 practical and functional rather than decorative. 3 (sensible of/to) formal or dated aware of: I am very sensible to your concerns.
Here are some example:
He was a sensible young man, choosing to stay indoors and study rather than go out with his friends.
She wore a plain cotton dress which showed her sensibility in fashion.

One refers to physical touch or emotional attitude; empathy.
The other refers to a mental state or physical plainness.

Hope this is accurate and helpful.

--Lionheart

Pieanne · Answer

Trombidu,

these words are tricky for the French, as the French "sensible" means the English "sensitive". This may be a way to make the difference between them!

Anonymous · Answer

thanks you, i am spanish and i had this question doing my english homework xD

Anonymous · Answer

Indeed, same goes with Spanish, we have "sensible" for sensitive and "sensato" for sensible. Thanks for the good explanations.

Anonymous · Answer

Fos spanish speakers:
Sensitive: Es sensible.
Sensible: Es sensato. Por eso la confusión de cual usar. Tendemos a usar SENSIBLE en inglés para expresar sensible ( de sensibilidad).

Thanks Vorpar, you clarify those differences very well.

Anonymous · Answer

Sensible is when you do the right thing, you aren´t stupid. Sensitive is when you cry easily, when you become very emotional about anything (even when you are watching the soap opera)

Anonymous · Answer

These generally have different meanings and are used differently, but, surprisingly, they can be synonymous in certain situations, although modern usage favors sensitive in such instances, for example:

I was sensitive to the cold areas of the house.
I was sensible to the cold areas of the house.

I was sensitive to indications of a coming mood change in her.
I was sensible to indications of a coming mood change in her.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. I am a native Portuguese speaker, had the same doubr for years. it was a great help to have the exact corresponding words in Spanish, since they are pretty similar in Portuguese.

Sensitive vs sensible

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