What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unresponsive
Example
The patient was unresponsive to the doctor's questions. [unresponsive: adjective]
Example
The company was unresponsive to customer complaints, which led to a decline in sales. [unresponsive: adjective]
Example
The touchscreen on my phone is unresponsive, and I can't type anything. [unresponsive: adjective]
indifferent
Example
She was indifferent to his proposal and didn't show any emotion. [indifferent: adjective]
Example
He remained indifferent to the political debate and didn't take sides. [indifferent: adjective]
Example
The cat was indifferent to the loud noise and continued sleeping. [indifferent: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Indifferent is more commonly used than unresponsive in everyday language. Indifferent is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unresponsive is less common and refers to specific situations where a response is expected but not received.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unresponsive and indifferent?
Both unresponsive and indifferent are formal words that are suitable for use in academic or professional contexts. However, unresponsive is more technical and specialized, while indifferent is more general and can be used in various formality levels.