Synonyms for indifferent
- adjective
Most common
apathetic unconcerned unmoved listless easy-going cool ordinary unimportant
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Apathetic — ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic
apathetic, unconcerned, unmoved, listless, heedless, nonchalant, uncaring, insensible, lukewarm, phlegmatic, unenthusiastic, insouciant, inattentive, callous, blasé, impassive, deaf, lackadaisical, dismissive, dull, unmindful, stoical
2. Careless — indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care
easy-going, cool, reckless, off-hand, casual, devil-may-care, laid-back, carefree, relaxed, loose, chill, airy, careless dated
3. Ordinary — mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage)
so-so informal, ordinary, mediocre, inferior, middling UK, tolerable, moderate, uninspiring, lackluster US, lack-lustre UK, lacklustre UK, average, passable
4. Unimportant — not making a difference; without significance or importance
unimportant, immaterial, inconsequential, slight, insignificant, trivial, trifling, mean, negligible, minor
Definitions
- adj. 1
Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.
He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way.
- adj. 2
Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.
She responded with an indifferent shrug.
- adj. 3
Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).
The Blue Jays' performance has been indifferent this season.
- adj. 4
Not making a difference; without significance or importance.
Related words
- Word family
- indifferentness indifference indifferently
Example sentences
- apathetic It's said that the youth of today are apathetic.
- unconcerned Tom said that he thought that I seemed unconcerned.
- unmoved He remains unmoved in front of violent scenes on TV.
- listless I feel listless and have a throbbing headache.
- casual They are collecting information by casual methods.
- reckless We tried to restrain him from his reckless action.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| indifferent | steady | |
| apathetic | falling | |
| unconcerned | rising | |
| unmoved | rising | |
| listless | rising | |
| casual | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- mean1, cool1, cold1, deaf1, dull1, airy2
- 5 letters
- minor2, loose1, chill1, inert2
- 6 letters
- casual3, slight1
- 7 letters
- average3, neutral2, relaxed2, trivial3, callous2, unmoved2, stoical
- 8 letters
- ordinary4, moderate3, reckless2, inferior4, detached2, careless2, mediocre4, unbiased3, carefree2, lukewarm2, middling3, passable3, trifling2, uncaring3
- 9 letters
- impartial3, tolerable4, apathetic4, impassive3, unmindful
- 10 letters
- negligible4, dismissive3, lackluster3, immaterial5, nonchalant3, lacklustre, insensible4, phlegmatic3, insouciant3
- 11 letters
- unimportant4, unconcerned3, uninspiring4, inattentive4
- 12 letters
- unprejudiced
- 13 letters
- insignificant5, disinterested4, dispassionate4, lackadaisical5
- 14 letters
- unenthusiastic6
- 15 letters
- inconsequential5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (airy2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- indifférent
- Italiano
- indifferente
- Español
- indiferente
- Deutsch
- gleichgültig
- Català
- indiferent