INDIFFERENT
Dictionary entry overview: What does indifferent mean?
• INDIFFERENT (adjective)
The adjective INDIFFERENT has 10 senses:
1. marked by a lack of interest
2. showing no care or concern in attitude or action
3. (usually followed by 'to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
4. (often followed by 'to') lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
5. fairly poor to not very good
6. having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
7. marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another
8. characterized by a lack of partiality
9. being neither good nor bad
10. neither too great nor too little
Familiarity information: INDIFFERENT used as an adjective is familiar.
Dictionary entry details
• INDIFFERENT (adjective)
Meaning:
Marked by a lack of interest
Synonyms:
indifferent; apathetic
Context examples:
an apathetic audience / the universe is neither hostile nor friendly; it is simply indifferent
Similar:
uninterested (not having or showing interest)
Meaning:
Showing no care or concern in attitude or action
Context examples:
indifferent to the sufferings of others / indifferent to her plea
Similar:
unconcerned (lacking in interest or care or feeling)
Meaning:
(usually followed by 'to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
Synonyms:
deaf; indifferent
Context example:
deaf to her warnings
Similar:
heedless; thoughtless; unheeding (marked by or paying little heed or attention)
Meaning:
(often followed by 'to') lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
Synonyms:
indifferent; immaterial
Context examples:
whether you choose to do it or not is a matter that is quite immaterial (or indifferent) / what others think is altogether indifferent to him
Similar:
unimportant (not important)
Meaning:
Fairly poor to not very good
Context examples:
has an indifferent singing voice / has indifferent qualifications for the job
Similar:
inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)
Meaning:
Having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
Synonyms:
inert; neutral; indifferent
Context examples:
inert matter / an indifferent chemical in a reaction
Similar:
unreactive (not reacting chemically)
Domain category:
chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)
Meaning:
Marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another
Context examples:
indifferent about which book you would give them / was indifferent to their acceptance or rejection of her invitation
Similar:
fair; impartial (showing lack of favoritism)
Meaning:
Characterized by a lack of partiality
Synonyms:
unbiased; unbiassed; indifferent
Context examples:
a properly indifferent jury / an unbiasgoted account of her family problems
Similar:
fair; impartial (showing lack of favoritism)
Meaning:
Being neither good nor bad
Synonyms:
so-so; indifferent
Context examples:
an indifferent performance / a gifted painter but an indifferent actor / her work at the office is passable / a so-so golfer / feeling only so-so / prepared a tolerable dinner / a tolerable working knowledge of French
Similar:
ordinary (not exceptional in any way especially in quality or ability or size or degree)
Meaning:
Neither too great nor too little
Context example:
a couple of indifferent hills to climb
Similar:
moderate (being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme)
