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What's the word for not caring about others?
The word you're looking for
Not showing interest in or concern for others; treating their feelings or needs as unimportant. This directly describes someone who doesn't care about how others feel or what happens to them.
Other words that fit
Use this when you want to emphasize a lack of emotion or enthusiasm generally—the person seems to care about almost nothing, not just others.
Prefer this when the person is not only uncaring but also deliberately harsh, cruel, or insensitive toward others' suffering.
Choose this when describing someone who is distant, detached, and socially withdrawn rather than actively or obviously uncaring.
Why this word
Indifferent directly describes not caring about others or their feelings. It means showing little interest in or concern for someone else's situation. While apathetic suggests a broader lack of emotion or energy, indifferent is more specific—it's about your attitude toward a particular person or thing. Callous is stronger and implies not just indifference but also coldness or cruelty. Don't confuse indifferent with impartial (treating everyone fairly without favouritism), which often has a positive sense. In everyday speech you'll hear "doesn't care" or "doesn't give a damn," but indifferent is more formal, precise, and appropriate for written English.
In context
- He remained indifferent to her suffering and offered no help.
- The manager seemed indifferent to her employees' complaints about the schedule.
- She gave an indifferent shrug when her friend explained his serious problem.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is indifferent always a negative trait?
- Usually, yes. Showing indifference to others' suffering or needs is seen as unkind or cold. However, in some contexts, being indifferent (staying neutral) can be positive—like a judge ignoring a defendant's wealth and judging fairly.
- What's the difference between indifferent and apathetic?
- Indifferent means not interested in or concerned about a specific person or thing. Apathetic is broader—it means lacking emotion, enthusiasm, or interest in general. You can feel apathetic about life but still care deeply about one person.
- Can you be indifferent without being mean?
- Yes. Indifference simply means you don't care; it doesn't necessarily mean you act cruelly. However, true indifference to someone's pain or need can appear cold, unfriendly, or unkind to others watching.
- How do I use indifferent in a sentence?
- Use it with 'to' + the person or thing you don't care about. Examples: 'He's indifferent to criticism,' 'She remained indifferent to their tears,' 'They seem indifferent to climate change.' It's common in formal writing.