Apathy

/ˈæpəθi/intermediatenoun

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Meaning

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Memory trick

A-PATHY: without (a-) feeling (pathos).

Examples

1

Apathy toward quality eventually shows up as churn.

2

He struggled with apathy after months of burnout.

3

The campaign failed because it couldn’t overcome voter apathy.

Synonyms

indifferenceunconcerndetachmentpassivitylethargylistlessness

Antonyms

empathyinterestconcernenthusiasmpassionengagement

Etymology

From Greek apatheia "without feeling," from a- "without" + pathos "feeling."

Usage Notes

Often used in psychology, culture, and politics. Strong when describing disengagement.

Real-life contexts

1

Use in leadership: "Apathy is a signal, people don’t see impact."

2

Use in self-reflection: "This apathy might be fatigue, not laziness."

3

Use in analysis: "We need to reduce friction to avoid apathy."

Common Mistakes

Apathy is not the same as ambivalence. Apathy is not caring; ambivalence is caring in two directions.

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Quick Facts

Part of Speech

noun

Difficulty

intermediate

Monthly Searches

~120,000

Apathy: Meaning, Examples & How to Remember It | WordFlippin