Inured

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪˈnjʊɹd/

Definitions

1. Becoming accustomed to hardship or discomfort often leads to greater resilience against adversity
2. Developing a state of tolerance or insensitivity towards unpleasant circumstances or experiences is indicative of this process
3. Having grown familiar with tough or unpleasant situations to the point where they cause less distress

Etymology: "Inured" is the past participle of "inure", and the verb's core idea is practice. It comes from Middle English "inuren", built from the prefix "in-" and "ure", meaning "practise" or "exercise". The "ure" element is a shortened form of the older "use", so the verb once meant something close to working a person or thing into a routine until it became second nature. That sense of repetition explains the adjective's meaning. Someone who is "inured" to hardship has been exercised by it so often that it no longer shocks or wears them down. The word therefore describes a result rather than an action: the hardening process is complete, and the person is now accustomed to what would once have troubled them.

Synonyms: accustomed, hardened, desensitized, conditioned, habituated

Antonyms: sensitive, unaccustomed, vulnerable, naive, inexperienced