apathetic

apathetic

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From apathy + -etic.

    Pronunciation

    • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/, [ˌæpəˈθɛɾɪ̈k]
    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/
      • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

    Adjective

    apathetic (comparative more apathetic, superlative most apathetic)

    1. Void of feeling; not susceptible of deep emotion.
      Synonyms: indifferent, unconcerned; see also Thesaurus:apathetic
      • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIV, in Francesca Carrara. [], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, [], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 167:
        He then added a few general offers of service, but offered as if he would be glad if they were accepted; and when Guido knelt for his parting benediction, it was given with a warmth and sincerity not often used by the apathetic and haughty minister.
    2. Of, or pertaining to apatheism.

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Noun

    apathetic (plural apathetics)

    1. (chiefly politics) An apathetic or indifferent person, especially one who shows no interest in a particular issue.
      • 1965 November 19, “Universities: The Spectrum on Viet Nam”, in Time, volume 86, number 21, page 67:
        On the left are the activist Vietniks, eager to protest the war; next are the doves, who oppose the U.S. role but shun demonstrations; and in the middle are the apathetics, who simply are not concerned enough to think through their own stand.

    References