noun

apathy

/ˈæpəθi/ · say it: AP·uh·thee

lack of interest or emotion

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (noun) a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern about something

2. (noun) a lack of emotion or feeling

Examples

1. The low voter turnout showed the public's apathy toward the election.
2. After months of depression, he felt a kind of apathy where nothing seemed to matter anymore.

How to use apathy

Apathy describes a passive absence of feeling or concern, often implying a troubling lack of motivation or care. Unlike indifference (which can be neutral or chosen), apathy suggests something more problematic or concerning, particularly in social or political contexts. It can describe both emotional numbness and a failure to engage with important issues.

Common phrases

widespread apathy
political apathy
apathy towards
overcome apathy
public apathy

Synonyms

indifference · lack of interest · disinterest · detachment · unresponsiveness

Opposites

enthusiasm · passion · concern

Word family

apathetic (adjective) · apathetically (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse apathy with sympathy or antipathy; apathy means not caring at all, whereas sympathy means caring deeply, and antipathy means actively disliking.

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