apathetic

American  

[ap-uh-thet-ik] / ˌæp əˈθɛt ɪk /

Also apathetical

adjective

1. having or showing little or no emotion.

   apathetic behavior.

   Synonyms:

   cool, impassive, unfeeling

   Antonyms:

   emotional

2. not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive.

   an apathetic audience.

   Synonyms:

   unconcerned, uninterested

   Antonyms:

   concerned

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apathetic British  

/ ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent

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Usage

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!

Other Word Forms

• apathetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of apathetic

First recorded in 1735–45; apath(y) + (path)etic

Explanation

Apathetic is an adjective that describes the feeling of being bored with what’s going on around you. If you don’t care one way or another, you’re apathetic. The Greek word pathos describes a type of emotional suffering that afflicts people who are super sensitive to their environment. Pathos is a root word of apathetic, but the prefix a- turns it into the opposite: emotional boredom, insensitivity, and a lack of enthusiasm. Maybe you feel apathetic because nothing around you stirs your interest, or maybe it’s because you need some coffee.

Example Sentences

Such gestures aren’t given to figures who are apathetic or indifferent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

CEOs, in turn, pursue strategies against apathetic indexers or fickle traders who chase hot stocks and flee at the first hint of trouble.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

Authorities are apathetic to their preservation, so his organisation is engaging directly with people, offering pro-bono repair and restoration consultancies to prevent them from giving away their properties to builders for redevelopment.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2025

We stare at one another, keeping our faces blank, apathetic.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• callous
• indifferent
• laid-back
• passive
• stoic
• uninterested