Advertisement
Advertisement
apathetic
[ ap-uh-thet-ik ]
adjective
- having or showing little or no emotion:
apathetic behavior.
Synonyms: cool, impassive, unfeeling
Antonyms: emotional
- not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive:
an apathetic audience.
Synonyms: unconcerned, uninterested
Antonyms: concerned
apathetic
/ ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk /
adjective
- having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent
Derived Forms
- ˌapaˈthetically, adverb
Other Words From
- apa·theti·cal·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of apathetic1
Word History and Origins
Origin of apathetic1
Example Sentences
Both were victims because they were too apathetic to find a better place to leave their equipment.
So often, lately, movie creatives seem not only apathetic about trying to capture it, but ignorant that such an it factor even existed in the first place.
Nobody leaves feeling apathetic about Ashley, the mark of a well-written character.
As automation continues to entrench itself in every aspect of search marketing, it may be easy to become apathetic towards it or even resent how these developments change our workflows.
This would empower individuals to make thoughtful and informed decisions about their data privacy, versus the rushed and apathetic experience that accept cookies banners create.
He began his education at Franklin & Marshall, but was academically apathetic.
“The song was awkward for Marxist critics because of its apathetic character,” the scholar Franz Mennemeier noted.
Pitre is right, combat is about screw-ups, bad officers, apathetic contractors, regret, unfairness, and impossible missions.
According to a Pew Poll in December, Americans are more apathetic about any kind of military intervention than ever before.
Traditionally worn by sixth-graders and jocks and those who lounge aggressively, the draw-stringed trouser is defiantly apathetic.
He tried to console her, to amuse her, but what distraction could be found to appeal to that monstrously apathetic nature?
At the sound of the word divorce the apathetic old draper seemed to wake up.
How could the apathetic be awakened, the discouraged stimulated, the overworked rested and cheered?
But the mean, where it dwelt chiefly, was an apathetic fascination, partly of horror; as of Europa in mid ocean with her bull.
But the other men were less apathetic, and had followed the brave man to the door.
Advertisement
Related Words
More About Apathetic
What does apathetic mean?
Apathetic means uncaring.
It’s an adjective form of apathy—the state of not caring. It can also mean the absence or suppression of emotion or passion.
Apathetic is especially used to describe people with a lack of interest or concern about things, especially those that others find important or exciting.
Apathetic often means about the same thing as indifferent, but it’s more often used in the context of someone’s lack of action when action is needed.
The word apathetic is typically used in a negative way to criticize someone as being irresponsible or insensitive. When someone is accused of being apathetic, it usually means the person making the accusation thinks the apathetic person should care more—or at all.
Example: Your generation is astoundingly apathetic—it’s like none of you care about any of the big problems in the world!
Where does apathetic come from?
The first records of the word apathetic come from around 1740. Its base word, apathy, comes from the Greek apathḗs, meaning “unfeeling,” from a-, “a lack of,” and pathos, “feeling.” The same root forms the basis of words such as empathy and sympathy, and apathetic is made into an adjective in the same way as empathetic, sympathetic, and pathetic.
Describing someone as apathetic doesn’t necessarily mean they feel nothing. But it’s most commonly used to describe someone who doesn’t care enough to do something, especially in a situation that calls for action. In this way, people considered apathetic are often to have an intentionally indifferent attitude that they’ve adopted in order to avoid dealing with problems, taking on challenges, or getting involved with difficult situations.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to apathetic?
- apathetically (adverb)
- apathy (noun)
What are some synonyms for apathetic?
What are some words that share a root or word element with apathetic?
What are some words that often get used in discussing apathetic?
How is apathetic used in real life?
The word apathetic is usually used in a way that’s critical of the people it’s used to describe—even when people apply it to themselves.
being too passionate, being entirely apathetic – I'm just praying for a balance, a happy median, a sweet spot
— Cyn (@cynthialovely) June 6, 2017
I suspect that's how it starts. Someone does wrong, feels bad about it, doesn't make changes to fix the situation, then grows tired of feeling bad. They become apathetic toward their own feelings of wrong. And one day, they just smother the spark and go "So what?"
— an arch on (@anarchonbury) September 3, 2020
#WritingCommunity, do y’all go thru periods where you’re just completely apathetic about writing? I haven’t been able to get anything significant done on either WIP in like 2 wks. All I feel like doing is reading scripts and watching shows, am I a lazy lump or is this normal?
— Taylor Coriell (@frecklysoprano1) August 31, 2020
Try using apathetic!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of apathetic?
A. indifferent
B. involved
C. unconcerned
D. detached
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse