apathetic meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

apathetic

adj

US /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/ · UK /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/

Etymology From apathy + -etic.

Void of feeling; not susceptible of deep emotion.

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.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 167:

Of, or pertaining to apatheism.

Synonyms: 51 terms
adiaphroistic, apathetic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, deaf, cool, shiftless, dispassionate, dull, enervated, gallionic, halfhearted, heartless, impassive, ineffervescible, insouciant, indifferent, insensible, jaded, languid, languorous, Laodicean, lethargic, listless, lackadaisical, lotophagous, lukewarm, meh, mopey, nonchalant, nonplussed, otiose, phlegmatic, pococurante, spiritless, supine, tepid, torpid, torpedinous, unaroused, uncaring, unconcerned, unenthusiastic, unimpressible, uninterested, unlively, unmoved, untouched, unzealous, world-weary
Antonyms: furious, effusive, emotional, enthusiastic, excited, overwrought, passionate
Derived terms: apathetically, apatheticness, nonapathetic, unapathetic
Related terms: apatheism, apatheist, pathetic, calm, carefree, inactive, lazy, sleepy, slow, apathy
Hypernyms: alexithymic
Hyponyms: easygoing, viscerotonic, stoic, stoical, collected, cool-headed, even-keeled, even-tempered, imperturbable, unflappable
Coordinate terms: aloof, impartial, stern

noun

Etymology From apathy + -etic.

Government, Politics An apathetic or indifferent person, especially one who shows no interest in a particular issue.

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.1965 November 19, “Universities: The Spectrum on Viet Nam”, in Time, volume 86, number 21, page 67: