indifferent

adjective

in·dif·fer·ent in-ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt How to pronounce indifferent (audio)

-fərnt

: marked by a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern for something : apathetic

indifferent to suffering and poverty

: marked by no special liking for or dislike of something

indifferent about which task he was given

: being neither good nor bad : mediocre

does indifferent work

: being neither right nor wrong

: being neither excessive nor inadequate : moderate

hills of indifferent size

: marked by impartiality : unbiased

: that does not matter one way or the other

: of no importance or value one way or the other

: characterized by lack of active quality : neutral

an indifferent chemical

: not differentiated

indifferent tissues of the human body

: capable of development in more than one direction

especially : not yet embryologically determined

indifferently adverb

Did you know?

The Many Shades of Indifferent

Many of the words in our language have more than a single meaning. In most cases we have little trouble distinguishing them; we understand, based on the context in which each is used, that the English of "the English language" is different from the English used in billiards or pool ("spin around the vertical axis deliberately imparted to a ball that is driven or rolled"). In other cases, such as with the word indifferent, it can be a bit confusing. Indifferent may mean "unbiased," "apathetic," "mediocre," "unimportant," and several other things. Some of these senses are distinguished by the words commonly used with them; the "apathetic" sense, for instance, is typically followed by the preposition to. When using indifferent in your own writing take care that the surrounding words offer your reader sufficient context to prevent confusion.

Example Sentences

It can hardly be argued, by himself or by his defenders, that he was indifferent to, or unaware of, the true situation.

Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, March 2001 … aspects of language that the earlier grammarians were indifferent to.

Geoffrey Nunberg, Atlantic, December 1983 For it is commonly said and commonly believed that science is completely neutral and indifferent as to the ends and values which move men to act …

John Dewey, Freedom and Culture, 1939 The movie was poorly received by an indifferent public. Was the food good, bad, or indifferent?

Recent Examples on the Web Many locals were indifferent to the monument; some early Internet chatter and magazine coverage helped alert tourists.

Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 Some would argue that the joint Allied raid of Dresden in Germany a month before Tokyo targeted — or at least was indifferent to the plight of — German civilians.

Bob Carden, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 American lawyers have often defended the indefensible, worked pro bono for those who couldn’t pay them back, and kept their commitments to clients who were indifferent and sometimes even hostile to their legal advice.

Matt Ford, The New Republic, 18 Aug. 2022 Because Twitter’s policing of its users’ tweets has been indifferent and ineffectual, the platform often resembles an online version of an open sewer line.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2022 Find a regional manager who can strike a healthy balance between indifferent and intense: someone who can regularly plan events and draw the more shy team members out of their shells while also respecting work and personal conflicts.

Zack Dugow, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 Why is crypto so indifferent to such a big institutional vote of confidence?

Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Bass and Caruso aren't especially well-known in Los Angeles, a city that can be fairly indifferent to local politics.

Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 But the past months have also been disorienting for those who may have been politically indifferent before now.

Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2022 See More

indifferent

adjective

as in nonchalant

having or showing a lack of interest or concern indifferent about the result of the football game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

nonchalant
casual
uninterested
apathetic
disinterested
unconcerned
careless
complacent
incurious
detached
perfunctory
stoic
insouciant
uncurious
aloof
insensible
calm
cold
numb
lukewarm
callous
unemotional
tepid
insensitive
dispassionate
unfeeling
halfhearted
pococurante
impassive
heedless
phlegmatic
listless
remote
impervious
unimpressed
lethargic
mindless
stolid
hard-hearted
stoical
cool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

interested
concerned
attentive
aware
conscientious
sensitive
mindful
passionate
warm
zealous
ardent
fervent
caring
keen
heedful
warmhearted

as in satisfactory

of average to below average quality an indifferent but drinkable cup of coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

satisfactory
middling
mediocre
decent
ordinary
medium
fair
common
so-so
good
acceptable
passable
adequate
reasonable
second-rate
respectable
nice
run-of-the-mine
run-of-the-mill
tolerable
modest
all right
second-class
alright
sufficient
fine
moderate
unexceptional
okay
minimal
run-of-mine
sufficing
presentable
OK

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

excellent
superior
great
outstanding
special
exceptional
optimal
distinguished
supreme
splendid
choice
optimum
marvellous
prime
terrific
superb
exquisite
sensational
stellar
maximum
superlative
par excellence
marvelous
matchless
peerless
top
fantastic
classic
grand
swell
sterling
fabulous
capital
preeminent
unsatisfactory
nifty
unparalleled
inadequate
unmatched
unacceptable
unsurpassed
first-rate
first-class
insufficient
lacking
number one
top-notch
tip-top
deficient
wanting
A1
No. 1

as in impartial

marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias they believed their art teacher could offer an indifferent judgment on their works' merits

Synonyms & Similar Words

impartial
equitable
equal
disinterested
objective
dispassionate
just
unbiased
candid
unprejudiced
square
evenhanded
fair
frank
nonpartisan
straightforward
rational
forthright
reasonable
balanced
open
straight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unjust
partial
partisan
biased
inequitable
prejudiced
nonobjective
deceptive
dishonest
unreasonable
deceitful
arbitrary
unfriendly
one-sided
unsympathetic
unconscionable
parti pris
ex parte
colored
jaundiced
distorted
warped

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of indifferent are aloof, detached, disinterested, incurious, and unconcerned. While all these words mean "not showing or feeling interest," indifferent implies neutrality of attitude from lack of inclination, preference, or prejudice.

indifferent to the dictates of fashion

Although the words aloof and indifferent have much in common, aloof suggests a cool reserve arising from a sense of superiority or disdain for inferiors or from shyness.

aloof from his coworkers

The synonyms detached and indifferent are sometimes interchangeable, but detached implies an objective attitude achieved through absence of prejudice or selfishness.

observed family gatherings with detached amusement

The words disinterested and indifferent can be used in similar contexts, but disinterested implies a circumstantial freedom from concern for personal or especially financial advantage that enables one to judge or advise without bias.

judged by a panel of disinterested observers

While the synonyms incurious and indifferent are close in meaning, incurious implies an inability to take a normal interest due to dullness of mind or to self-centeredness.

incurious about the world

In some situations, the words unconcerned and indifferent are roughly equivalent. However, unconcerned suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles.

unconcerned about the homeless

单词	indifferent
释义	indifferent adjective in·dif·fer·ent in-ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt -fərnt 1 a : marked by a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern for something : apathetic indifferent to suffering and poverty b : marked by no special liking for or dislike of something indifferent about which task he was given 2 a : being neither good nor bad : mediocre does indifferent work b : being neither right nor wrong 3 : being neither excessive nor inadequate : moderate hills of indifferent size 4 : marked by impartiality : unbiased 5 a : that does not matter one way or the other b : of no importance or value one way or the other 6 : characterized by lack of active quality : neutral an indifferent chemical 7 a : not differentiated indifferent tissues of the human body b : capable of development in more than one direction especially : not yet embryologically determined indifferently adverb Did you know? The Many Shades of Indifferent Many of the words in our language have more than a single meaning. In most cases we have little trouble distinguishing them; we understand, based on the context in which each is used, that the English of "the English language" is different from the English used in billiards or pool ("spin around the vertical axis deliberately imparted to a ball that is driven or rolled"). In other cases, such as with the word indifferent, it can be a bit confusing. Indifferent may mean "unbiased," "apathetic," "mediocre," "unimportant," and several other things. Some of these senses are distinguished by the words commonly used with them; the "apathetic" sense, for instance, is typically followed by the preposition to. When using indifferent in your own writing take care that the surrounding words offer your reader sufficient context to prevent confusion. Synonyms apathetic casual complacent disinterested incurious insensible insouciant nonchalant perfunctory pococurante unconcerned uncurious uninterested See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences It can hardly be argued, by himself or by his defenders, that he was indifferent to, or unaware of, the true situation. Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, March 2001 … aspects of language that the earlier grammarians were indifferent to. Geoffrey Nunberg, Atlantic, December 1983 For it is commonly said and commonly believed that science is completely neutral and indifferent as to the ends and values which move men to act … John Dewey, Freedom and Culture, 1939 The movie was poorly received by an indifferent public. Was the food good, bad, or indifferent? Recent Examples on the Web Many locals were indifferent to the monument; some early Internet chatter and magazine coverage helped alert tourists. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 Some would argue that the joint Allied raid of Dresden in Germany a month before Tokyo targeted — or at least was indifferent to the plight of — German civilians. Bob Carden, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 American lawyers have often defended the indefensible, worked pro bono for those who couldn’t pay them back, and kept their commitments to clients who were indifferent and sometimes even hostile to their legal advice. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 18 Aug. 2022 Because Twitter’s policing of its users’ tweets has been indifferent and ineffectual, the platform often resembles an online version of an open sewer line. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2022 Find a regional manager who can strike a healthy balance between indifferent and intense: someone who can regularly plan events and draw the more shy team members out of their shells while also respecting work and personal conflicts. Zack Dugow, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 Why is crypto so indifferent to such a big institutional vote of confidence? Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Bass and Caruso aren't especially well-known in Los Angeles, a city that can be fairly indifferent to local politics. Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 But the past months have also been disorienting for those who may have been politically indifferent before now. Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin indifferent-, indifferens, from in- + different-, differens, present participle of differre to be different — more at differ First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4 Kids Definition indifferent adjective in·dif·fer·ent in-ˈdi-fə-rənt -ˈdi-frənt 1 : not interested or concerned about something She's indifferent about your problems. 2 : neither good nor bad an indifferent performance Medical Definition indifferent adjective in·dif·fer·ent in-ˈdif-ərnt, -ˈdif-(ə-)rent 1 : having or exhibiting a lack of affect, concern, or care 2 a : not differentiated indifferent tissues of the human body b : capable of development in more than one direction especially : not yet embryologically determined indifferent adjective 1 as in nonchalant having or showing a lack of interest or concern indifferent about the result of the football game Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance nonchalant casual uninterested apathetic disinterested unconcerned careless complacent incurious detached perfunctory stoic insouciant uncurious aloof insensible calm cold numb lukewarm callous unemotional tepid insensitive dispassionate unfeeling halfhearted pococurante impassive heedless phlegmatic listless remote impervious unimpressed lethargic mindless stolid hard-hearted stoical cool Antonyms & Near Antonyms interested concerned attentive aware conscientious sensitive mindful passionate warm zealous ardent fervent caring keen heedful warmhearted See More 2 as in satisfactory of average to below average quality an indifferent but drinkable cup of coffee Synonyms & Similar Words satisfactory middling mediocre decent ordinary medium fair common so-so good acceptable passable adequate reasonable second-rate respectable nice run-of-the-mine run-of-the-mill tolerable modest all right second-class alright sufficient fine moderate unexceptional okay minimal run-of-mine sufficing presentable OK Antonyms & Near Antonyms excellent superior great outstanding special exceptional optimal distinguished supreme splendid choice optimum marvellous prime terrific superb exquisite sensational stellar maximum superlative par excellence marvelous matchless peerless top fantastic classic grand swell sterling fabulous capital preeminent unsatisfactory nifty unparalleled inadequate unmatched unacceptable unsurpassed first-rate first-class insufficient lacking number one top-notch tip-top deficient wanting A1 No. 1 See More 3 as in impartial marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias they believed their art teacher could offer an indifferent judgment on their works' merits Synonyms & Similar Words impartial equitable equal disinterested objective dispassionate just unbiased candid unprejudiced square evenhanded fair frank nonpartisan straightforward rational forthright reasonable balanced open straight Antonyms & Near Antonyms unjust partial partisan biased inequitable prejudiced nonobjective deceptive dishonest unreasonable deceitful arbitrary unfriendly one-sided unsympathetic unconscionable parti pris ex parte colored jaundiced distorted warped See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of indifferent are aloof, detached, disinterested, incurious, and unconcerned. While all these words mean "not showing or feeling interest," indifferent implies neutrality of attitude from lack of inclination, preference, or prejudice. indifferent to the dictates of fashion Although the words aloof and indifferent have much in common, aloof suggests a cool reserve arising from a sense of superiority or disdain for inferiors or from shyness. aloof from his coworkers The synonyms detached and indifferent are sometimes interchangeable, but detached implies an objective attitude achieved through absence of prejudice or selfishness. observed family gatherings with detached amusement The words disinterested and indifferent can be used in similar contexts, but disinterested implies a circumstantial freedom from concern for personal or especially financial advantage that enables one to judge or advise without bias. judged by a panel of disinterested observers While the synonyms incurious and indifferent are close in meaning, incurious implies an inability to take a normal interest due to dullness of mind or to self-centeredness. incurious about the world In some situations, the words unconcerned and indifferent are roughly equivalent. However, unconcerned suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles. unconcerned about the homeless
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indifferent

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser