apathy

noun

ˈa-pə-thē How to pronounce apathy (audio)
Definition of apathynext
1
as in numbness
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness the apathy of the people of that war-torn country comes from their having seen too many horrors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregard
lack of interest or concern her poor grades are proof enough of her apathy concerning all matters academic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of apathy But those decisions face the constant threat of litigation, which fuels uncertainty for college athletes each season and furthers fan apathy. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Those involved in spearheading the recall effort have said the data center vote and its fallout, including the upcoming special election, represent a shift away from resident apathy toward local government and civic participation. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 While there's a lot of apathy, in politics nationally, people in Tallahassee are just more energized than ever to take our city in a different direction. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 McGilvray also thinks apathy will be widespread for this special primary so the local Republican Party is trying to get word out. — Debbie Elliott, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apathy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apathy
  1. numbness
  2. disregard
  3. emptiness
  4. indifference
  5. insensibility
  6. phlegm
Noun
  • Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Massachusetts mother asked to change her medications nearly every day, saying the drugs were causing intrusive thoughts, insomnia and numbness, said one of her other providers, Rebecca Jollotta.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of numbness
Noun
  • He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • These statements show a total disregard for confidentiality, basic investigative standards and the seriousness of ethics violations.
    — Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of disregard
Noun
  • However, at the quantum level, emptiness is filled with unwanted noise.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The problem isn’t the characterization, since the surgeon is extremely well drawn and Văncică’s performance picks up on both the overall inner emptiness and the yearning for something more.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • The building at the excavation was previously thought to have served as a prison, due to the shoddiness of its construction and its indifference to aesthetics.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yet Jocelyne keeps hitting a wall of indifference from the military and authorities.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of indifference
Noun
  • The famous Lord Chesterfield[5] counselled his son that he should never be seen to laugh; and that gravity with real or apparent insensibility is a universal characteristic of the savage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of insensibility
Noun
  • Your Mucus Changes Changes in mucus (phlegm) are among the most common signs of a COPD flare-up.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026
  • European colonists commonly believed that the balance of humors – yellow and black biles, blood and phlegm – circulating through one’s body was important for health.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of phlegm

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apathetically
apathy
ape
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Cite this Entry

“Apathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apathy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apathy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apathy

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