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Abgebrühtheit

hardened cynicism, unshockable matter-of-factness

noun ap-ge-BRUEHT-hite Rare

Origin: from abgebrüht (scalded into hardness), colloquial

Usage Note

Abgebrühtheit describes the emotional callousness of someone who has seen enough to be unimpressed by anything. It can be admired (in a war correspondent) or criticised (in a bureaucrat). The adjective abgebrüht is common in colloquial speech.

Examples

"Trotz seiner äußerlichen Abgebrühtheit litt er innerlich unter der Situation."

Natural Translation

Despite his outward hardened cynicism, he inwardly suffered from the situation.

Literal Translation

Despite his outward hardened-callousness suffered he inwardly under the situation.

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