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
Relevance
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
Once viewed as mere support cells for neurons, astrocytes are now thought to help tune brain circuits and thereby control overall brain state or mood — say, our level of alertness, anxiousness, or apathy.
—
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
The tension between human need and the superior power of machine apathy has always been part of HEALTH’s music.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
At the same time, many progressive church leaders, facing dwindling congregations and general public apathy, have become more careful about appearing partisan in any way, which has allowed right-wing Christian nationalism to define the conversation about religion and politics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Mood Disorder Therapy Huntington’s disease can cause mood disorders, including apathy, depression, anxiety, and irritability.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apathy
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
The tension between human need and the superior power of machine apathy has always been part of HEALTH’s music.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
At the same time, many progressive church leaders, facing dwindling congregations and general public apathy, have become more careful about appearing partisan in any way, which has allowed right-wing Christian nationalism to define the conversation about religion and politics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Mood Disorder Therapy Huntington’s disease can cause mood disorders, including apathy, depression, anxiety, and irritability.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apathy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apathy
Noun
-
One assumes his numbness will eventually disappear.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
People may not notice frostbite developing because numbness often comes before pain.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To this one can readily add ICE agents’ violations of constitutional restrictions on the use of force, breaches of their own use-of-force policies when confronting protesters, and the unconstitutional disregard of Fourth Amendment warrant restrictions.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Outraged over such disregard for safety, even those who had held uneasy friendships with King cut him off.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Pirates’ indifference to him is surely, and somewhat understandably, driving him a bit nuts.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The quiet is broken only by the swoop of herons and, less poetically, the occasional 737 descending into the nearby airport, which the waterway loops around with indifference.—
Phil Thomas,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kerr and several staffers compared the emptiness around downtown, coupled with the frigid temperatures outside, to feelings that existed during COVID.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Many roads in Austin remained icy on Monday morning and many coffee shops and restaurants echoed the emptiness on the streets with their own temporary closures.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 10 Feb. 2026.
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