˜yÐÄvlog

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View synonyms for

apathetic

[ ap-uh-thet-ik ]

adjective

  1. having or showing little or no emotion:

    apathetic behavior.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive:

    an apathetic audience.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:



apathetic

/ ˌæ±èəˈθɛ³Ùɪ°ì /

adjective

  1. having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ËŒ²¹±è²¹Ëˆ³Ù³ó±ð³Ù¾±³¦²¹±ô±ô²â, adverb
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • ²¹±èa·³Ù³ó±ð³Ùi·³¦²¹±ô·±ô²â adverb
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of apathetic1

First recorded in 1735–45; apath(y) + (path)etic
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of apathetic1

C18: from apathy + pathetic
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The display was all the more remarkable given how recently many in tech were politically naive or apathetic.

From

Political broken hearts — unfulfilled promises on immigration reform, schools that continue to fail, worsening housing inequities — are why Latinos are so apathetic about elections, I argued.

From

Saied's consolidation of power has led to an apathetic mood ahead of the elections.

From

Biden’s decision to withdraw fundamentally reshapes the 2024 campaign for both Democrats and Republicans, and could provide a welcome boost for Democrats who’ve faced flagging support from a relatively apathetic electorate.

From

Survivors have lived under surveillance for years, and many now feel that members of the rising generation have grown too fearful and apathetic toward speaking up for their rights.

From

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More About Apathetic

What doesÌýapathetic 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 doesÌýapathetic come from?

The first records of the word apathetic come from around 1740. Its base word, apathy, comes from the Greek ²¹±è²¹³Ù³óḗs, 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?Ìý

What are some words that often get used in discussing apathetic?

How isÌýapathetic 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.

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Try usingÌýapathetic!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of apathetic?

A. indifferent
B. involved
C. unconcerned
D. detached

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