apathy

[ ap-uh-thee ]

/ ˈæp ə θi /

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See synonyms for apathy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ap·a·thies.

absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.

lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

Also ap·a·thei·a, ap·a·thi·a

[ap-uh-thee-uh]. /ˌæp əˈθi ə/. Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.

OTHER WORDS FOR apathy

1 coolness.

See synonyms for apathy on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR apathy

1 ardor, fervor.

See antonyms for apathy on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of apathy

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

synonym study for apathy

2. See indifference.

Words nearby apathy

Passage to India, A, apast, apastron, apatetic, apathetic, apathy, apatite, apatosaurus, APB, APC, ape

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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.

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What are some other forms related to apathy?

apathetic (adjective)

What are some synonyms for apathy?

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

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

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

How to use apathy in a sentence

They need to change the conversation about their team, which is full of doubt and apathy.
The Wizards’ reboot needs to start with trading both John Wall and Bradley Beal|Jerry Brewer|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Men don’t have that kind of apathy for women like Dean does.
Norm Crosby, comedian who mangled words with great extinction, dies at 93|Harrison Smith|November 9, 2020|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.
Despite some gains in the past year, Hollywood still has inclusion problems, study says|radmarya|September 10, 2020|Fortune
I don’t think most psychologists would use the word “apathy.”
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Ep. 334 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|January 9, 2020|Freakonomics

We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.”
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Ep. 334 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|January 9, 2020|Freakonomics
The dire fatalism that dominated the discourse then is gone, replaced largely with a practiced apathy.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The result is safe seats that lead to apathy and voter impotence, leading logically to ever-declining voter turnout.
Hate Hyper-Partisanship? Support Redistricting Reform Now|John Avlon|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And one arena in which to stage that confrontation—with madness, apathy, family dysfunction, poverty, etc.—is the theater.
Broadway Was Made for Tupac|Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Marcyliena Morgan|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Two basic characteristics not related to memory are apathy and indifference or callousness.
Does Donald Sterling Have Dementia? And Does That Make Him Any Less of a Racist?|Robert Silverman|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Silence and apathy are key ingredients to a tasty helping of bigotry.
Female Journalist Gets Rape Threats Over Comic Book Criticism|Tauriq Moosa|April 21, 2014|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.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The narrative had excited him out of his apathy and physical exhaustion, the confession shaken the rigidity from his mind.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
He studied Madame Roland with even more of stoical apathy than another man would study a book which he admires.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
The school-children, owing to a more liberal educational system, had lost the customary look of apathy.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
From the fatal slumber of religious apathy into which the church was falling it was to be rudely awakened.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow

British Dictionary definitions for apathy

apathy

/ (ˈæpəθɪ) /

noun

absence of interest in or enthusiasm for things generally considered interesting or moving

absence of emotion

Word Origin for apathy

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

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

apathy

OTHER WORDS FOR apathy

OPPOSITES FOR apathy

Origin of apathy

synonym study for apathy

Words nearby apathy

MORE ABOUT APATHY

What does apathy mean?

Where does apathy come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is apathy used in real life?

Try using apathy!

Words related to apathy

How to use apathy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for apathy

Word Origin for apathy