apathy

[ ap-uh-thee ]

noun

, plural ap·a·thies.

1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.

   Synonyms: coolness

   Antonyms: fervor, ardor

2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
3. Also ap·a·thei·a, ap·a·thi·a [] Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.

apathy

/ ˈæpəθɪ /

noun

1. absence of interest in or enthusiasm for things generally considered interesting or moving
2. absence of emotion

Word History and Origins

Origin of apathy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French or directly from Latin apathīa, from Greek apátheia “insensibility to suffering,” equivalent to apathe- (stem of apathḗs ) “unfeeling” ( a- a- ⁶ + pathe-, variant stem of páthos pathos ) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of apathy¹

C17: from Latin, from Greek apatheia, from apathēs without feeling, from a- ¹+ pathos feeling

Synonym Study

See indifference.

Example Sentences

The dire fatalism that dominated the discourse then is gone, replaced largely with a practiced apathy.

From The Daily Beast

The result is safe seats that lead to apathy and voter impotence, leading logically to ever-declining voter turnout.

From The Daily Beast

And one arena in which to stage that confrontation—with madness, apathy, family dysfunction, poverty, etc.—is the theater.

From The Daily Beast

Two basic characteristics not related to memory are apathy and indifference or callousness.

From The Daily Beast

Silence and apathy are key ingredients to a tasty helping of bigotry.

From The Daily Beast

I've been in a sort of mental apathy since I got back—the result, I suppose, of so much artistic excitement all summer.

From Project Gutenberg

The narrative had excited him out of his apathy and physical exhaustion, the confession shaken the rigidity from his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

He studied Madame Roland with even more of stoical apathy than another man would study a book which he admires.

From Project Gutenberg

The school-children, owing to a more liberal educational system, had lost the customary look of apathy.

From Project Gutenberg

From the fatal slumber of religious apathy into which the church was falling it was to be rudely awakened.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• indifference
• insensitivity
• lethargy