apathy
Apathy refers to a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern regarding matters of general importance or appeal. It is a state of indifference where an individual or group remains unmoved by events that would typically trigger an emotional response or action.
Examples
3 of 5I was surprised by his apathy when I told him I was moving away after ten years.
I was surprised by his lack of emotion or interest when I told him I was moving away after ten years.
The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public apathy toward the new environmental regulations.
The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public indifference toward the new environmental regulations.
There's so much apathy in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.
There's so much lack of interest in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember that 'a-' means 'without' (as in 'asymmetrical') and '-pathy' means 'feeling' (as in 'sympathy'). So, apathy literally means 'without feeling'.
Quick Quiz
The principal was concerned about the students' ____ toward the new school rules.
Correct!
The correct answer is: apathy
Examples
I was surprised by his apathy when I told him I was moving away after ten years.
everydayI was surprised by his lack of emotion or interest when I told him I was moving away after ten years.
The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public apathy toward the new environmental regulations.
formalThe government is struggling to overcome the widespread public indifference toward the new environmental regulations.
There's so much apathy in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.
informalThere's so much lack of interest in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.
Scholars argue that voter apathy is not merely a sign of laziness but a reflection of systemic disillusionment.
academicScholars argue that the lack of interest in voting is not merely a sign of laziness but a reflection of systemic disillusionment.
Employee apathy can lead to a significant decrease in productivity and innovation within the firm.
businessEmployee lack of enthusiasm can lead to a significant decrease in productivity and innovation within the firm.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
shaking off apathy
Taking action to stop being indifferent or lazy
steeped in apathy
Deeply affected by a lack of interest or concern
political apathy
Lack of interest in political activities or government affairs
Often Confused With
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, while apathy is the total absence of feeling or interest.
Sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune; apathy is having no feeling at all toward a situation.
Usage Notes
Apathy is typically used in a negative context to criticize a lack of civic duty or emotional engagement. It is often followed by the prepositions 'toward' or 'about'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use the word 'empathy' when they mean 'apathy' because they sound similar. Also, remember that 'apathy' is a noun; you cannot 'apathy' something (use 'be apathetic about' instead).
Memory Tip
Remember that 'a-' means 'without' (as in 'asymmetrical') and '-pathy' means 'feeling' (as in 'sympathy'). So, apathy literally means 'without feeling'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'freedom from suffering' or 'insensibility'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western democracies, 'voter apathy' is a frequent topic of sociopolitical debate regarding low election turnout.
Quick Quiz
The principal was concerned about the students' ____ toward the new school rules.
Correct!
The correct answer is: apathy
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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