What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
apathetic
Example
She seemed apathetic towards the outcome of the game. [apathetic: adjective]
Example
The students showed an apathetic attitude towards their studies. [apathetic: noun]
indifferent
Example
He was indifferent about which movie to watch. [indifferent: adjective]
Example
She remained indifferent to the criticism and continued with her work. [indifferent: preposition]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Indifferent is more commonly used than apathetic in everyday language. Indifferent is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while apathetic is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between apathetic and indifferent?
Both apathetic and indifferent can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, apathetic may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.