apathy

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈæpəθi/ UK /ˈæpəθi/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Voter apathy led to a record-low turnout.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · lack of interest,... indifference unconcern listlessness torpor lethargy detachment

Opposites

enthusiasm passion interest concern zeal

Word family

Derived forms apathetic

Related forms pathos sympathy empathy pathetic

Etymology

From Greek apatheia ('freedom from suffering, impassivity'), from apathēs ('without feeling'), from a- ('without') + pathos ('feeling, suffering').

apátheia Ancient Greek páthos Ancient Greek

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# apathy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈæpəθi
**IPA (UK):** ˈæpəθi

## Meanings
1. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

## Examples
- Voter apathy led to a record-low turnout.

## Synonyms
- indifference
- unconcern
- listlessness
- torpor
- lethargy
- detachment

## Antonyms
- enthusiasm
- passion
- interest
- concern
- zeal

## Derived Forms
- apathetic

## Related Forms
- pathos
- sympathy
- empathy
- pathetic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: apátheia
- Root: páthos

## Etymology
From Greek apatheia ('freedom from suffering, impassivity'), from apathēs ('without feeling'), from a- ('without') + pathos ('feeling, suffering').

## AI Etymology
Apathy is from Greek apatheia ('freedom from suffering, impassivity'), from apathēs ('without feeling'), from a- ('without') + pathos ('feeling, suffering'). In present-day use, it means lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Derived formations include apathetic. Related vocabulary includes pathos, sympathy, empathy, and pathetic.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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apathy

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