Apathy
noun
A lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
She listened to his excuses with apathy.
Often appears as...
- show apathy
- feel apathy
noun
In medicine, the absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
The patient showed signs of apathy following long-term hospitalization.
Often appears as...
- medical apathy
- show signs of apathy
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
In psychology, a state of listlessness or torpor, or of not caring or not being concerned with one's surroundings.
Apathy is often a symptom of mental health disorders like depression.
Often appears as...
- psychological apathy
- symptoms of apathy
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
She listened to his excuses with apathy.
Often appears as...
- show apathy
- feel apathy
noun
In medicine, the absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
The patient showed signs of apathy following long-term hospitalization.
Often appears as...
- medical apathy
- show signs of apathy
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
In psychology, a state of listlessness or torpor, or of not caring or not being concerned with one's surroundings.
Apathy is often a symptom of mental health disorders like depression.
Often appears as...
- psychological apathy
- symptoms of apathy
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Not Caring
Use 'apathy' when someone doesn't care enough to respond or take interest in something.
Despite the team's loss, there was an air of apathy among the fans.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Neutral
'Apathy' suggests a neutral emotion, rather than a strong feeling like hate or disgust.
He met the news of his business's failure with surprising apathy.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Misuse
Don’t confuse 'apathy' with 'sympathy' or 'empathy'; it means the lack of feeling, not sharing it.
Her apathy towards the plight of the homeless was unexpected, as she normally shows much empathy.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Caring
Use 'apathy' when someone doesn't care enough to respond or take interest in something.
Despite the team's loss, there was an air of apathy among the fans.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Neutral
'Apathy' suggests a neutral emotion, rather than a strong feeling like hate or disgust.
He met the news of his business's failure with surprising apathy.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Misuse
Don’t confuse 'apathy' with 'sympathy' or 'empathy'; it means the lack of feeling, not sharing it.
Her apathy towards the plight of the homeless was unexpected, as she normally shows much empathy.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Caring
Use 'apathy' when someone doesn't care enough to respond or take interest in something.
Despite the team's loss, there was an air of apathy among the fans.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Neutral
'Apathy' suggests a neutral emotion, rather than a strong feeling like hate or disgust.
He met the news of his business's failure with surprising apathy.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Misuse
Don’t confuse 'apathy' with 'sympathy' or 'empathy'; it means the lack of feeling, not sharing it.
Her apathy towards the plight of the homeless was unexpected, as she normally shows much empathy.
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Video examples
Srdja Popovic: How to...
shouting, and you know, showing off in front of the security forces. Now, there is also another very important dynamic. And this is a dynamic that analysts normally don't see. This is the dynamic between fear and apathy on the one side, and enthusiasm and humor on another side.
Video examples
Bono: The good news on...
want to be free, and when they're free, liberty is usually around the corner, even for the poorest of the poor -- facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia, facts that tell us what's working and, more importantly, what's not, so we can fix it,
Video examples
Dave Meslin: The...
too stupid or too lazy to try to make a difference in their community? I propose to you today that apathy as we think we know it doesn't actually exist; but rather, that people do care, but that we live in a world that actively discourages engagement
Video examples
The good news on poverty...
the corner even for the poorest of the poor facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia facts that tell us what's working and more importantly what's not so we can fix it facts that if we hear them and heed them
Video examples
Every day you live, you...
That's, I think, something for everybody. Because a lot of people understand what's happening, but they feel helpless and hopeless, and what can they do, so they do nothing and they become apathetic. And that is a huge danger, apathy.
Video examples
The price of shame PIPE...
says that even in small numbers, when there's consistency over time, change can happen. In the online world, we can foster minority influence by becoming upstanders. To become an upstander means instead of bystander apathy,
Video examples
Aaron Huey: America's...
Teacher turnover is eight times higher than the US national average. Frequently, grandparents are raising their grandchildren because parents, due to alcoholism, domestic violence and general apathy, cannot raise them.
Video examples
If trees could speak PIPE...
and empathy and understanding speak louder than demagoguery and apathy. Stories bring us together. Untold stories and entrenched silences keep us apart. But how to tell the stories of humanity and nature
Video examples
Fighting injustice with...
easily crumble why we sleep that our comfort is fragile the dis concerns us but all injustice is in fact personal we need empathy to replace apathy but how
Video examples
The Y2K Scare PIPE National...
there still exists a general state of either denial complacency or even apathy
Video examples
Srdja Popovic: How to...
shouting, and you know, showing off in front of the security forces. Now, there is also another very important dynamic. And this is a dynamic that analysts normally don't see. This is the dynamic between fear and apathy on the one side, and enthusiasm and humor on another side.
Video examples
Bono: The good news on...
want to be free, and when they're free, liberty is usually around the corner, even for the poorest of the poor -- facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia, facts that tell us what's working and, more importantly, what's not, so we can fix it,
Video examples
Dave Meslin: The...
too stupid or too lazy to try to make a difference in their community? I propose to you today that apathy as we think we know it doesn't actually exist; but rather, that people do care, but that we live in a world that actively discourages engagement
Video examples
The good news on poverty...
the corner even for the poorest of the poor facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia facts that tell us what's working and more importantly what's not so we can fix it facts that if we hear them and heed them
Video examples
Every day you live, you...
That's, I think, something for everybody. Because a lot of people understand what's happening, but they feel helpless and hopeless, and what can they do, so they do nothing and they become apathetic. And that is a huge danger, apathy.
Video examples
The price of shame PIPE...
says that even in small numbers, when there's consistency over time, change can happen. In the online world, we can foster minority influence by becoming upstanders. To become an upstander means instead of bystander apathy,
Video examples
Aaron Huey: America's...
Teacher turnover is eight times higher than the US national average. Frequently, grandparents are raising their grandchildren because parents, due to alcoholism, domestic violence and general apathy, cannot raise them.
Video examples
If trees could speak PIPE...
and empathy and understanding speak louder than demagoguery and apathy. Stories bring us together. Untold stories and entrenched silences keep us apart. But how to tell the stories of humanity and nature
Video examples
Fighting injustice with...
easily crumble why we sleep that our comfort is fragile the dis concerns us but all injustice is in fact personal we need empathy to replace apathy but how
Video examples
The Y2K Scare PIPE National...
there still exists a general state of either denial complacency or even apathy
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ameen Rihani
Lebanese Writer
Experience is knowledge; but knowledge, when it is sought only as a material resource, is not always a blessing. Experience is wisdom; but wisdom, with those who lack vision, is not always power. Experience is tolerance; but tolerance, when it is induced by apathy, is not in the least a virtue.
Quote examples
Bobbie Ann Mason
American Novelist
I rejected the traditional notion of 'women's work,' but I never thought of my early ambitions in a feminist way, exactly. Primarily I rebelled against apathy and limited education. I was rejecting a whole way of life that I thought trapped everyone.
Quote examples
Vijay Deverakonda
Indian Actor
We all observe political leaders and scams. People are affected because of political apathy. We all get frustrated because of what we witness. 'NOTA' was a platform to vent my frustration.
Quote examples
Teri Hatcher
American Actress
Acceptance is different than apathy. It is important to strive to be your best self, your healthiest, most productive, joyful self. But that is going to be a different answer to everyone.
Quote examples
Helen Keller
American Author
We may have found a cure for most evils; but we have found no remedy for the worst of them all, the apathy of human beings.
Quote examples
David Geffen
American Businessman
HIV infection and AIDS is growing - but so too is public apathy. We have already lost too many friends and colleagues.
Quote examples
Tim Minchin
Australian Comedian
Comedy actually works best when you're living in an OK world, and you are pointing out the hypocrisy in apathy.
Quote examples
Leo Buscaglia
American Author
I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn.
Quote examples
Chris Long
American Athlete
For all the evils in the world, I think apathy is one of the most dangerous.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I think worrying things are going on in England - a real apathy.
Quote examples
Ameen Rihani
Lebanese Writer
Experience is knowledge; but knowledge, when it is sought only as a material resource, is not always a blessing. Experience is wisdom; but wisdom, with those who lack vision, is not always power. Experience is tolerance; but tolerance, when it is induced by apathy, is not in the least a virtue.
Quote examples
Bobbie Ann Mason
American Novelist
I rejected the traditional notion of 'women's work,' but I never thought of my early ambitions in a feminist way, exactly. Primarily I rebelled against apathy and limited education. I was rejecting a whole way of life that I thought trapped everyone.
Quote examples
Vijay Deverakonda
Indian Actor
We all observe political leaders and scams. People are affected because of political apathy. We all get frustrated because of what we witness. 'NOTA' was a platform to vent my frustration.
Quote examples
Teri Hatcher
American Actress
Acceptance is different than apathy. It is important to strive to be your best self, your healthiest, most productive, joyful self. But that is going to be a different answer to everyone.
Quote examples
Helen Keller
American Author
We may have found a cure for most evils; but we have found no remedy for the worst of them all, the apathy of human beings.
Quote examples
David Geffen
American Businessman
HIV infection and AIDS is growing - but so too is public apathy. We have already lost too many friends and colleagues.
Quote examples
Tim Minchin
Australian Comedian
Comedy actually works best when you're living in an OK world, and you are pointing out the hypocrisy in apathy.
Quote examples
Leo Buscaglia
American Author
I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn.
Quote examples
Chris Long
American Athlete
For all the evils in the world, I think apathy is one of the most dangerous.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I think worrying things are going on in England - a real apathy.
Example 1 of 10
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