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indifferent

/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/adjective3 syllables

Indifferent means: (usually followed by ‘to’) unwilling or refusing to pay heed.

Synonyms for indifferent33

adjective, as in (usually followed by ‘to’) unwilling or refusing to pay heed

deaf, heedless, unheeding

adjective, as in having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive

inert, neutral, unreactive

adjective, as in characterized by a lack of partiality

unbiased, unbiassed, impartial

adjective, as in marked by a lack of interest

apathetic, uninterested

adjective, as in (often followed by ‘to’) lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other

immaterial, unimportant

adjective, as in being neither good nor bad

so-so, ordinary

adjective, as in showing no care or concern in attitude or action

unconcerned

adjective, as in fairly poor to not very good

adjective, as in marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another

adjective, as in neither too great nor too little

also used for indifferent

insouciant, nonchalant, adiaphroistic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, cool, shiftless, laid-back, pococurante, airy, at ease, at peace, carefree, careless

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does indifferent mean?10

adjective

1

(usually followed by ‘to’) unwilling or refusing to pay heed“deaf to her warnings”

2

having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive“inert matter”

3

characterized by a lack of partiality“a properly indifferent jury”

4

marked by a lack of interest“an apathetic audience”

5

(often followed by ‘to’) lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other“whether you choose to do it or not is a matter that is quite immaterial (or indifferent)”

6

being neither good nor bad“an indifferent performance”

7

showing no care or concern in attitude or action“indifferent to the sufferings of others”

8

fairly poor to not very good“has an indifferent singing voice”

9

marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another“indifferent about which book you would give them”

10

neither too great nor too little“a couple of indifferent hills to climb”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Indifferent in a sentence

  • According to a survey, three in five people today are indifferent to foreign affairs.unknown
  • I don't usually feel indifferent, but today is different.Eccles17
  • As is often the case with young people, he was indifferent to money.unknown
  • As is often the case with young men, he is indifferent to money.unknown
  • The mountains rise, indifferent to the passage of time.Igider
  • How can you be so indifferent to your wife's trouble?Dejo
  • The figure indicates approximately two thirds of the freshmen are indifferent to politics.unknown
  • These figures indicate three in five college first-year students are indifferent to politics.CM

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.