Find Antonyms
receptive Antonyms
Opposite of receptive
Because the opposite of receptive shifts with each meaning, the 14 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Willing and able to consider, accept, or listen to new ideas, suggestions, or arguments.
Usage Example
"The committee was surprisingly unreceptive to the young architect's unconventional design proposal."
Strongest
unreceptive
closed-minded
narrow-minded
Strong
resistant
dismissive
intolerant
hostile
prejudiced
• adjective (Context 2)
Capable of or quick at receiving, absorbing, or registering external stimuli, impressions, or knowledge.
Usage Example
"Young children have highly unresponsive minds that absorb spoken languages with remarkable ease."
Strongest
unresponsive
Strong
insensitive
impervious
obtuse
• adjective (Context 3)
Relating to the ability to understand spoken or written language, or to sensory organs that receive stimuli (in linguistics, psychology, and physiology).
Usage Example
"Speech therapists often evaluate a toddler's expressive vocabulary before testing expressive speaking skills."
Strongest
expressive
productive
Similar words to receptive
Words similar to receptive shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
open-minded
amenable
responsive
perceptive
impressionable
broad-minded
sensitive
hospitable
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Receptive. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/receptive