Callous
Callous adjective - Having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings.
Usage example: the callous comment “It's just a fish,” when the boy's pet died, made him cry
Hard is a synonym for callous in attitude topic. In some cases you can use "Hard" instead an adjective "Callous", when it comes to topics like character trait, unyielding, severe, cruel. popular alternative
Hard
Hard adjective - Having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings.
Usage example: a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone
Callous is a synonym for hard in attitude topic. You can use "Callous" instead an adjective "Hard", if it concerns topics such as character trait, unyielding, harsh, severe. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Scorning them is a mark of a callous and hard-hearted soul; even those who do not cry themselves can appreciate the Tender Tears.
Source: Tender Tears -
That being said, the completely cold and callous way in which she does this ensures that while it's hard to sympathize with them, she doesn't come across as justified in doing so either.
Source: Literature / Night Watch - Presented a hard, callous, sarcastic front but deep inside he was a Friend to All Children.
Cite this Source
Hard and Callous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/callous/hard
Callous & Hard. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/callous/hard>.
Hard or Callous. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/callous/hard.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "callous" and "hard" have occurred on timeline