Meaning & use
callous disregard
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformaldisapproving
A complete lack of concern for other people's suffering or safety, often shown by someone in authority.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; often followed by 'for' or 'of': a callous disregard for safety.
Patterns
- callous disregard for someone/something
- callous disregard of something
- show callous disregard for something
The company showed a callous disregard for the safety of its workers.
His callous disregard for the truth shocked even his supporters.
The report criticized the government's callous disregard of the homeless.
Common combinations
- callous disregard for
- The manager's callous disregard for staff well-being caused many to quit.
- show callous disregard
- The driver showed callous disregard for the rules.
- complete callous disregard
- There was a complete callous disregard for the environment.
- callous disregard of duty
- He was fired for callous disregard of duty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- indifference
- Indifference is a lack of interest or concern; callous disregard is stronger and implies a cruel lack of sympathy.
- insensitivity
- Insensitivity means not noticing others' feelings; callous disregard suggests actively not caring about their suffering.
- heartlessness
- Heartlessness is a general lack of pity; callous disregard is often used in formal contexts about authorities ignoring people's needs.
Opposites
Word family
- callous adjective
- Showing no sympathy for others.
- callously adverb
- In a way that shows no sympathy.
- callousness noun
- The quality of being callous.
Commonly confused: callous disregard or careless disregard?
callous disregard vs careless disregard
Careless disregard means not paying enough attention; callous disregard means not caring about the harm caused.
Practice
The CEO's _______ for the victims of the factory fire was widely condemned.
Choose one answer.
'Callous disregard' fits because it describes a lack of sympathy for suffering. 'Careful attention' and 'deep concern' are positive and would not be condemned; 'slight interest' is too weak and not a fixed phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “callous disregard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.