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

They need to change the conversation about their team, which is full of doubt and apathy.

From Washington Post

Men don’t have that kind of apathy for women like Dean does.

From Washington Post

It reflects a lack of seriousness, some ambivalence and apathy on the part of the creative community and the inability of different companies to really set in place policies and procedures that would change the status quo.

From Fortune

I don’t think most psychologists would use the word “apathy.”

From Freakonomics

We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.”

From Freakonomics

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

More About Apathy

What does apathy mean?

Apathy is the state of not caring.

The word is especially used to refer to a lack of interest or concern about things, especially those that others find important or exciting.

It can also mean the absence or suppression of emotion or passion.

Apathy often means about the same thing as indifference, but it’s more often used in the context of someone’s lack of action when action is needed.

The adjective apathetic is used to describe someone in such a state.

The word apathy is typically used in a negative way to criticize such a state or attitude as being irresponsible or insensitive. When someone is accused of apathy, it usually means the person making the accusation thinks the apathetic person should care more—or at all.

Example: The apathy of your generation is astounding—it’s like none of you care about any of the big problems in the world!

Where does apathy come from?

The first records of the word apathy come from around 1600. It 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.

Apathy doesn’t necessarily mean feeling nothing. But it’s most commonly used to refer to the state of not caring enough to do something, especially in a situation that calls for action. In this way, apathy is often thought of as an intentionally indifferent attitude that people adopt 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 apathy?

• apathetic (adjective)

What are some synonyms for apathy?

• indifference
• detachment

What are some words that share a root or word element with apathy? 

• empathy
• sympathy
• pathos

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

• uncaring
• emotion
• lack
• interest
• concern
• action
• laziness

How is apathy used in real life?

The word apathy is usually used in a way that’s critical of those said to be engaging in it.

It is a war on the mind. APATHY VS EMPATHY. Where do you stand? What is your code of ethics? Who are you, not just what do you make or what do you do or how much money do you have: WHO ARE YOU? WHO WILL YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN YOU WERE IN THIS MOMENT?

— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) June 1, 2020

If you’re good hearted and trying your hand at apathy today because it sucks to hurt again, 1. Me too. 2. It’s not working for me either.

— John Mayer (@JohnMayer) November 5, 2017

We must choose hope, over hate; action, over apathy. Every single day.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 18, 2018

 

 

Try using apathy!

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

A. indifference
B. involvement
C. unconcern
D. detachment