sensibility
noun
Did you know?
The meanings of sensibility run the gamut from mere sensation to excessive sentimentality. In between is a capacity for delicate appreciation, a sense often pluralized. In Jane Austen's books, sensibility is mostly an admirable quality she attributes to, or finds lacking in, her characters: "He had ... a sensibility to what was amiable and lovely" (of Mr. Elliot in Persuasion). In Sense and Sensibility, however, Austen starts out by ascribing to Marianne sensibleness, on the one hand, but an "excess of sensibility" on the other: "Her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation ... she was everything but prudent."
Examples of sensibility in a Sentence
Murat Ates, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Guided by Veronique Drouhin, the wines emphasize elegance, balance, and site expression, reflecting both Burgundian sensibilities and Oregon’s unique terroir.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Spread out across nearly 100 acres, the hotel’s lush gardens mimic the maximalist sensibilities of the interior design also dreamt up by Bensley.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Finally, Ellie appeals to a different sensibility when arguing on behalf of the attacking party.
—Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sensibility
Cite this Entry
“Sensibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensibility. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sensibility
noun
Medical Definition
sensibility
noun
Share