Meaning & use

indifferent

adjective·Academic

Having no particular interest, concern, or sympathy regarding a situation or person.

See it in a sentence

He remained indifferent to the debate happening around him, scrolling through his phone instead.

Voters seemed largely indifferent to the scandal by the time the election arrived.

A note on using this word

Can also mean "mediocre," as in "an indifferent meal," a less common but useful secondary sense.

Words with a similar meaning

unconcernedapathetic

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Neither particularly good nor bad; mediocre.

The restaurant served an indifferent meal that left us unimpressed.

Make it your own

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