Delicate vs. Sensitive — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 6, 2024
Delicate refers to something easily damaged or needing careful handling, while sensitive emphasizes responsiveness to changes or feelings.
Difference Between Delicate and Sensitive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Delicate items, such as fine china or intricate jewelry, require gentle treatment to avoid damage, whereas sensitive objects or systems, like sensors or emotional individuals, react noticeably to external stimuli.
In the context of physical properties, delicate structures are often fragile and breakable, like a spider's web, while sensitive materials respond immediately to touch or environmental changes, such as heat-sensitive film.
When discussing flavors, a delicate taste is subtle and light, needing discerning palates to appreciate, on the other hand, a sensitive palate can detect minor differences and may react strongly to certain ingredients.
Delicate can also describe a situation or negotiation that needs tactful handling to avoid offense or failure, whereas sensitive often refers to subjects or topics that are potentially controversial or emotionally charged.
In terms of health, a delicate constitution means a person may be easily prone to illness or discomfort, while a sensitive constitution might react vigorously to allergens or stress.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Easily damaged or needing careful handling
Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences
Common Usage
Fine materials, gentle care
Emotional response, susceptibility
Physical Response
Breakability, fragility
Reactivity, alertness
Contextual Example
Delicate fabric that tears easily
Sensitive skin that reddens quickly
Emotional Connotation
Requiring finesse and caution
Prone to emotional responses or discomfort
Compare with Definitions
Delicate
Requiring tact or careful handling.
The diplomat navigated the delicate negotiations.
Sensitive
Quick to detect or respond to slight changes.
The alarm system is extremely sensitive to movement.
Delicate
Fragile and easily broken.
The delicate glassware was wrapped in bubble wrap.
Sensitive
Requiring discretion or careful handling.
The counselor discussed the sensitive issues tactfully.
Delicate
Subtle and mild in flavor or scent.
The delicate aroma of fresh herbs filled the kitchen.
Sensitive
Capable of registering small quantities or differences.
This scale is sensitive enough to measure milligrams.
Delicate
Light and fine in texture or structure.
She admired the delicate lace of her wedding gown.
Sensitive
Easily hurt or damaged.
His sensitive skin always burns in the sun.
Delicate
Sensitive to adverse conditions.
The delicate seedlings were sheltered from the harsh sunlight.
Sensitive
Responding to emotional forces.
She is very sensitive to criticism.
Delicate
Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality
A delicate lace shawl
Sensitive
Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences
Spiders are sensitive to vibrations on their web
The new method of protein detection was more sensitive than earlier ones
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged; fragile
Delicate china
Sensitive
Having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others' feelings
I pay tribute to the Minister for his sensitive handling of the bill
Delicate
Requiring sensitive or careful handling
Delicate negotiations
Sensitive
Kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering security
He was suspected of passing sensitive information to other countries
Delicate
A delicate fabric or garment
The delicates cycle of a washing machine
Sensitive
A person who is believed to respond to paranormal influences.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way
A delicate flavor.
A delicate violin passage.
Sensitive
Capable of perceiving with a sense or senses
Aristotle held that animals have a sensitive soul, but only humans have a rational one.
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged
A kite too delicate to fly.
Sensitive
Responsive or capable of responding to a chemical stimulus or substance. Used especially of a cell, tissue, or organism.
Delicate
Exquisitely fine or dainty
Delicate china.
Sensitive
Susceptible to slight differences or changes in the environment
A plant that is sensitive to rapid changes in temperature.
Heat-sensitive enzymes.
Delicate
Frail in constitution or health.
Sensitive
Readily altered by the action of an agent
Film that is sensitive to light.
Delicate
Marked by sensitivity of discrimination
A critic's delicate perception.
Sensitive
Registering slight differences or changes of condition. Used of an instrument.
Delicate
Very subtle in difference or distinction.
Sensitive
Easily irritated
Sensitive skin.
Delicate
Having or showing great consideration or care
Delicate remarks concerning the scandal.
Sensitive
Predisposed to inflammation as a result of preexisting allergy or disease
People with celiac disease are sensitive to gluten.
Delicate
Requiring careful or tactful treatment
A delicate situation.
Sensitive
Aware of or careful about the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others
The book is a sensitive treatment of a troubled friendship.
Delicate
Fine or soft in touch or skill
A surgeon's delicate touch.
Sensitive
Easily hurt, upset, or offended
Teenagers tend to be especially sensitive about their appearance.
Delicate
Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise
A delicate set of scales.
Sensitive
Fluctuating or tending to fluctuate, especially in price
Sensitive stocks.
Delicate
Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
The negotiations were very delicate.
Sensitive
Of or relating to secret or classified information
Sensitive defense data.
Holds a sensitive position in the State Department.
Delicate
Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
Her face was delicate.
The spider wove a delicate web.
There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.
Sensitive
A sensitive person.
Delicate
Intended for use with fragile items.
Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.
Sensitive
One held to be endowed with psychic or occult powers.
Delicate
Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.
Delicate behaviour
Delicate attentions
Delicate thoughtfulness
Sensitive
Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
Delicate
Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
A delicate child
Delicate health
Sensitive
To stimuli.
Delicate
(informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
Sensitive
(of a person) Easily offended, upset, or hurt.
Max is very sensitive; he cried today because of the bad news.
Delicate
(obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
Sensitive
(of an issue, topic, etc.) Capable of offending, upsetting, or hurting.
Religion is often a sensitive topic of discussion and should be avoided when dealing with foreign business associates.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
A delicate dish
Delicate flavour
Sensitive
Meant to be concealed or kept secret.
These are highly sensitive documents.
Delicate
Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
Sensitive
, intricate, and requiring great delicacy.
The president's untimely statement disrupted some very sensitive negotiations.
Delicate
Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
A delicate shade of blue
Sensitive
(of an instrument) accurate; able to register small changes in some property.
Delicate
Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
Sensitive
(archaic) Having paranormal abilities that can be controlled through mesmerism.
Delicate
Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
A delicate taste
A delicate ear for music
Sensitive
A person with a paranormal sensitivity to something that most cannot perceive.
Delicate
Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.
A delicate thermometer
Sensitive
Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul.
Delicate
A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!
Sensitive
Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected.
She was too sensitive to abuse and calumny.
Delicate
(obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.
Sensitive
Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales.
Delicate
(obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
Sensitive
Serving to affect the sense; sensible.
A sensitive love of some sensitive objects.
Delicate
Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.
Haarlem is a very delicate town.
Sensitive
Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.
Sensitive
Responsive to physical stimuli;
A mimosa's leaves are sensitive to touch
A sensitive voltmeter
Sensitive skin
Sensitive to light
Delicate
Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature."
Sensitive
Having acute mental or emotional sensibility;
Sensitive to the local community and its needs
Delicate
Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; - said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.
Sensitive
Able to feel or perceive;
Even amoeba are sensible creatures
The more sensible p{ enveloping(a), shrouding(a), concealing,& (concealing by enclosing or wrapping as if in something that is not solid;
;
) }arts of the skin
Delicate
Slight or smooth; light and yielding; - said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.
Sensitive
Hurting;
The tender spot on his jaw
Delicate
Soft and fair; - said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.
Sensitive
Used officially of classified information or matters affecting national security
Delicate
Light, or softly tinted; - said of a color; as, a delicate blue.
Delicate
Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; - said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.
Delicate
Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; - said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.
A delicate and tender prince.
Delicate
Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.
There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.
Delicate
Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
Delicate
Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.
Delicate
Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.
Delicate
A choice dainty; a delicacy.
With abstinence all delicates he sees.
Delicate
A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, - those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, - are only of the Corinth metal.
Delicate
Exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury;
A delicate violin passage
Delicate china
A delicate flavor
The delicate wing of a butterfly
Delicate
Marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique;
A surgeon's delicate touch
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged or destroyed;
A kite too delicate to fly safely
Fragile porcelain plates
Fragile old bones
A frail craft
Delicate
Easily hurt;
Soft hands
A baby's delicate skin
Delicate
Developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety;
The satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
Delicate
Difficult to handle; requiring great tact;
Delicate negotiations with the big powers
Hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter
Delicate
Of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely;
Almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments
Common Curiosities
Is delicate the same as dainty?
Delicate and dainty both imply fine, often fragile qualities, but dainty specifically emphasizes small size and graceful details.
How does one identify a sensitive issue?
A sensitive issue is typically recognized by its potential to provoke strong emotional reactions or its need for confidentiality and tact.
What makes an object delicate?
An object is considered delicate if it is easily damaged or requires careful handling due to its fragility or fine construction.
What is a common example of a sensitive device?
A common example of a sensitive device is a smoke detector, which reacts quickly to small amounts of smoke.
What environments are sensitive to change?
Ecosystems like coral reefs or rainforests are sensitive to environmental changes, often reacting dramatically to climate shifts or pollution.
How should one handle delicate materials?
Delicate materials should be handled with utmost care and gentle techniques to prevent damage.
How do you care for a sensitive person?
Caring for a sensitive person involves understanding their emotional needs, being supportive, and avoiding harsh criticisms or actions.
Can foods be delicate or sensitive?
Foods can have a delicate flavor or texture, meaning they are subtle and light, but they aren't described as sensitive; however, people can be sensitive to foods, indicating allergies or dietary reactions.
Can someone be both delicate and sensitive?
Yes, a person can be both delicate and sensitive, indicating they may be physically fragile and emotionally responsive.
Why is it important to understand the difference between delicate and sensitive?
Understanding the difference helps in appropriate responses and treatments in interpersonal relations, material handling, and environmental management.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
