1. to make someone less sensitive to or less likely to react to something
2. to reduce or eliminate an allergic reaction to a substance through gradual exposure
Usage: medical

Examples

• Violent video games may desensitize children to real violence.
• The constant noise from traffic eventually desensitized the residents.
• The doctor used allergy shots to desensitize her to pollen.
• Years of working in the emergency room had desensitized him to trauma.
• The therapy helped desensitize her fear of flying.
• Repeated exposure to the allergen will gradually desensitize your immune system.