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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apathy
But apathy is a tough stain to get out.
—
Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Analysts say the turnout strongly suggests voter apathy, while polling data showed frustrations over crime and the higher cost of living.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Many of the musicians and audience members belonged to a generation that’s often stereotyped as languishing in apathy and isolation—but whose indignation about the suffering in Gaza has far outpaced that of other generations.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
And a habit of dismissing frustration as apathy rather than recognizing it as exhaustion.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apathy
Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Analysts say the turnout strongly suggests voter apathy, while polling data showed frustrations over crime and the higher cost of living.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Many of the musicians and audience members belonged to a generation that’s often stereotyped as languishing in apathy and isolation—but whose indignation about the suffering in Gaza has far outpaced that of other generations.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
And a habit of dismissing frustration as apathy rather than recognizing it as exhaustion.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apathy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apathy
Noun
-
Frostbite symptoms include redness or skin pain, white or grayish-yellow skin areas, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness, according to the CDC.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
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Rather than involving the wrist’s median nerve, the ulnar nerve in the elbow is compressed, resulting in numbness and tingling in some fingers along with aching pain in the elbow.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In May 2018, the Connecticut state auditors released a report that raised serious concerns about Agwunobi’s disregard of basic conflict of interest tenets.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
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But hazards hover both in the turning weather, a threat in particular to Flor’s severe asthma, and in Junior’s work environment, where he’s treated with racist disregard by his co-workers, while locals incensed by the company’s violation of the forest make vengeful overtures.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The seams of a costly rewrite are obvious, but worse than its messiness is its odd indifference to emotion.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
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Ekulona’s Julie is assailed as much by Hedda’s slights as by her indifference.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For them, mental emptiness leads to physical clarity.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The rich 35mm frames are captured with a stillness that emphasizes the haunting emptiness around the characters.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In just the last week, two men had fainted from heat stroke, and another had coughed up a smear of bloody phlegm.—
Kanak Kapur,
New Yorker,
28 Dec. 2025
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Symptoms may include: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apathy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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