( BrE also de·sen·si·tise ) / ˌdiːˈsensətaɪz; NAmE / verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
desensitize sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth less aware of sth, especially a problem or sth bad, by making them become used to it :
People are increasingly becoming desensitized to violence on television.
2.
( technical ) to treat sb/sth so that they will stop being sensitive to physical or chemical changes, or to a particular substance
► de·sen·si·tiza·tion , de·sen·si·tisa·tion / ˌdiːˌsensətaɪˈzeɪʃn; NAmE -təˈz-/ noun [ U ]