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Some common synonyms of indifferent<\/em> are aloof<\/em><\/a>, detached<\/em><\/a>, disinterested<\/em><\/a>, incurious<\/em><\/a>, and unconcerned<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"not showing or feeling interest,\" indifferent<\/em> implies neutrality of attitude from lack of inclination, preference, or prejudice.<\/p>

\/\/ indifferent<\/em> to the dictates of fashion<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'aloof' take the place of 'indifferent'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words aloof<\/em><\/a> and indifferent<\/em> have much in common, aloof<\/em> suggests a cool reserve arising from a sense of superiority or disdain for inferiors or from shyness.<\/p>

\/\/ aloof<\/em> from his coworkers<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'detached' be used to replace 'indifferent'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms detached<\/em><\/a> and indifferent<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but detached<\/em> implies an objective attitude achieved through absence of prejudice or selfishness.<\/p>

\/\/ observed family gatherings with detached<\/em> amusement<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'disinterested' be used instead of 'indifferent'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words disinterested<\/em><\/a> and indifferent<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but disinterested<\/em> implies a circumstantial freedom from concern for personal or especially financial advantage that enables one to judge or advise without bias.<\/p>

\/\/ judged by a panel of disinterested<\/em> observers<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'incurious' instead of 'indifferent'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms incurious<\/em><\/a> and indifferent<\/em> are close in meaning, incurious<\/em> implies an inability to take a normal interest due to dullness of mind or to self-centeredness.<\/p>

\/\/ incurious<\/em> about the world<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'unconcerned' be a better fit than 'indifferent'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words unconcerned<\/em><\/a> and indifferent<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, unconcerned<\/em> suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles.<\/p>

\/\/ unconcerned<\/em> about the homeless<\/p>" } } ] }

indifferent

adjective

in-ˈdi-f(É™-)rÉ™nt How to pronounce indifferent (audio)
Definition of indifferentnext
1
as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern indifferent about the result of the football game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in satisfactory
of average to below average quality an indifferent but drinkable cup of coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impartial
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias they believed their art teacher could offer an indifferent judgment on their works' merits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective indifferent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of indifferent are aloof, detached, disinterested, incurious, and unconcerned. While all these words mean "not showing or feeling interest," indifferent implies neutrality of attitude from lack of inclination, preference, or prejudice.

indifferent to the dictates of fashion

In what contexts can aloof take the place of indifferent?

Although the words aloof and indifferent have much in common, aloof suggests a cool reserve arising from a sense of superiority or disdain for inferiors or from shyness.

aloof from his coworkers

When could detached be used to replace indifferent?

The synonyms detached and indifferent are sometimes interchangeable, but detached implies an objective attitude achieved through absence of prejudice or selfishness.

observed family gatherings with detached amusement

When can disinterested be used instead of indifferent?

The words disinterested and indifferent can be used in similar contexts, but disinterested implies a circumstantial freedom from concern for personal or especially financial advantage that enables one to judge or advise without bias.

judged by a panel of disinterested observers

When is it sensible to use incurious instead of indifferent?

While the synonyms incurious and indifferent are close in meaning, incurious implies an inability to take a normal interest due to dullness of mind or to self-centeredness.

incurious about the world

When might unconcerned be a better fit than indifferent?

In some situations, the words unconcerned and indifferent are roughly equivalent. However, unconcerned suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles.

unconcerned about the homeless

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indifferent When her car is stolen and impounded, Amanda is thrust into a relentless legal battle against an indifferent system. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026 With tears and fragments of personal narratives, this footage often digs deeper than some might expect for a sport derided as the domain of adrenaline junkies indifferent to the law. —Maya Silver, Outside, 25 Feb. 2026 Fighting for the women’s game’s growth, though, brings additional emotional labour, and there is a psychological toll from always demanding more from indifferent stakeholders. —Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026 For landlords, environments that feel adaptive and humane will outperform spaces that remain static and indifferent. —Nathanael Bondu, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indifferent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indifferent
  1. nonchalant
  2. satisfactory
  3. impartial
  4. casual
  5. decent
  6. equitable
  7. uninterested
  8. ordinary
Adjective
  • Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Margot Robbie’s understanding of the assignment is evident, her fringe frame coupled with a low and loosely bound ponytail (another hallmark of the nonchalant set).
    — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of nonchalant
Adjective
  • Safety, satisfactory customer service, and ensuring riders feel secure are best achieved by maintaining — and even increasing — staffing in transit systems.
    — John Samuelsen, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Cavedon said the case centers on what happens if a person gives an answer that the officer doesn’t find satisfactory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Guten singled out the defense’s witness, Beatty, as too biased to render an impartial assessment, characterizing the social worker’s testimony as advocacy, not an expert opinion.
    — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Attorneys for Tyler Robinson continued arguing their motion to keep certain evidence out of the public’s view, citing the potential inability to select an impartial jury in the high-profile case.
    — Adriana James-Rodil , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of impartial
Adjective
  • The podcast aesthetic—casual, long-winded, sometimes profane—directly opposes, perhaps not coincidentally, the sterility and bizarre right-this-minute quality of cable news, on which everything seems incomplete and therefore manipulative, and yet somehow endless.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The result is a smaller but more engaged core market — one that is spending more per household even as casual participation declines.
    — Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of casual
Adjective
  • Its going to be a lot of hard work ahead for the club in the coming months - but confident that viewed in the round, the last two seasons have been pretty bloody decent.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The bundled keyboard and mouse are also decent, and there are plenty of ports for extra peripherals.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • The Social Security Administration projects that simply removing the cap on Social Security taxes would solve the underfunding problem in a way that is equitable and would lead to benefit increases overall.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Friedman, an Arlington Democrat and chair of the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, proposed a Solomonic, split-the-difference approach, suggesting that competing interests find a way to reach an equitable solution.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of equitable
Adjective
  • Actually, the sun just kind of sits there, doing its sun thing, uninterested in winning or losing.
    — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Henry's parents, Dandy and Tyrion, are a new couple who seem uninterested in incubating their eggs, Sea Life Weymouth aquarist Charlotte Edge said.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of uninterested
Adjective
  • Many Catholic theologians believe that ordinary care and treatment such as feeding tubes, on the other hand, should be continued.
    — Robert S. Olick, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Send no one back to Congress who will not commit to tax reform benefiting ordinary Americans.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of ordinary

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Cite this Entry

“Indifferent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indifferent. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of indifferent for Spanish Speakers

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