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I've been searching both my mind and several thesauruses attempting to find the adjective that best describes this type of person.
The term "thick-skinned" is the closest to what I am trying to convey, but that carries the connotation that he/she is callous and does not care about others.
Is there a word that describes someone who is not easily offended -- able to withstand criticism, ridicule, or jokes made at his/her expense -- without also implying that the person is emotionally callous?
someone who can accept a loss in a competition or can accept being the butt of a joke.
It is used as a noun. The definition is related to being able to take a joke but it also covers accepting criticism with grace.
As an adjective, I would say easygoing. This would describe the type of person.
relaxed in manner or attitude; inclined to be excessively tolerant
As a phrase, there is have a broad back:
not be easily hurt by criticism
It helps to have a broad back in showbusiness.
But this goes back to thick-skinned:
not easily hurt by criticism, insult, etc.
As you said, thick-skinned has two meanings. One of the meaning is what you ask but the other one is what you want to avoid. It would depend on the context then.
Unflappable can be used to describe this kind of attitude:
not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure; "hitherto imperturbable, he now showed signs of alarm"; "an imperturbable self-possession"; "unflappable in a crisis"
You could describe someone who magnanimously (rather than unfeelingly) endures offensive comments as imperturbable, impervious to criticism, or undaunted by insult. Related words include unflinching and undismayed.
If a verb phrase is appropriate in the context, you could also use hold one's head high to describe someone who remains composed and proud, in spite of insult or criticism.
Despite the vitriolic insults, the dignified woman seemed impervious to insult.
He held his head high, even during the personal attack.
The politician was imperturbable, in spite of the constant attacks on his foreign policy.
Longanimous patient endurance of hardship, injuries, or offense; forbearance.
There is the word Teflon, which has this as one of its meanings:
[AS MODIFIER] Used to refer to someone able to withstand criticism or attack with no apparent effect
It is from the trademark name for the Dupont product described as:
A tough synthetic resin made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene, used to coat nonstick cooking utensils and to make seals and bearings.
It is also a common nickname for politicians and public figures. See this Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teflon_(nickname)
try "unaffected"
adj. Free from affectation; plain; simple; natural; real; sincere; genuine
adj. not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
Not influenced; not persuaded or moved by others, or by foreign considerations; not biased; acting freely
Firstly, I think you should use thick skinned because it can be used in any context.
Other words that can used here are "unabashed," which means not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. Look it up on Oxford or Merriam.
also try brazen, bashless and like synonyms.
This may be going at it from the wrong direction, but a person would be more able to withstand ridicule if (s)he were confident (or self-confident), or, perhaps, emotionally secure.
Another word that came to my mind was insensitive; i.e., the opposite of the somewhat pejorative meaning of sensitive (i.e., implicitly, over-sensitive). But that suffers from the same problem as thick-skinned.
I would suggest stoic, specifically definitions 2 and 3. "Not affected by pain or distress." and "Not displaying any external signs of being affected by pain or distress."
