indifferent
/in'difrənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking interest, concern, or sympathy: Showing no care, enthusiasm, or preference.
- Neither good nor bad; mediocre: Of only average or moderate quality; not very good.
- Unimportant; not mattering: Having no significance or consequence.
- Neutral; unbiased: Characterized by a lack of partiality or preference.
- Having a limited chemical reactivity: Chemically inactive or neutral.
Examples of Usage
- Lacking interest/concern:
- She was indifferent to their criticism.
- He remained indifferent to the political debate.
- Mediocre quality:
- The restaurant received indifferent reviews.
- He gave an indifferent performance in the play.
- Unimportant:
- The exact time is indifferent to me; I can meet you anytime.
- Neutral/unbiased:
- A judge must remain indifferent to the personal backgrounds of those in the courtroom.
- Chemically inactive:
- Nitrogen is relatively indifferent under standard conditions.
Advanced Usage
- "Indifferent to": This is the most common prepositional phrase, used to show a lack of interest, concern, or effect.
- He seemed utterly indifferent to the outcome.
- The material is indifferent to most acids.
- "A matter of indifference": A thing that is unimportant or of no concern.
- Which route we take is a matter of indifference; they both take the same time.
Variants and Related Words
- Indifferently (adverb): In an indifferent manner.
- He shrugged indifferently.
- Indifference (noun): Lack of interest, concern, or importance.
- Her indifference to the proposal was obvious.
Synonyms
- Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
- Unconcerned: Not worried or anxious.
- Mediocre: Of only moderate quality; not very good.
- Neutral: Not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement.
- Impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally.
Antonyms
- Concerned: Worried, troubled, or interested.
- Enthusiastic: Having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.
- Excellent: Extremely good; outstanding.
- Biased: Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.
- Crucial: Of great importance.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To be indifferent to: The standard construction for expressing a lack of care or effect.
- She was completely indifferent to his flattery.
- It is a matter of indifference: Used to state that something is unimportant.
- It's a matter of indifference to me whether we go today or tomorrow.
Adjective
- neither too great nor too little
- a couple of indifferent hills to climb
- being neither good nor bad
- 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
- characterized by a lack of partiality
- a properly indifferent jury
- an unbiasgoted account of her family problems
- marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another
- indifferent about which book you would give them
- was indifferent to their acceptance or rejection of her invitation
- having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
- inert matter
- an indifferent chemical in a reaction
- fairly poor to not very good
- has an indifferent singing voice
- has indifferent qualifications for the job
- (often followed by `to') lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
- 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
- (usually followed by `to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
- deaf to her warnings
- showing no care or concern in attitude or action
- indifferent to the sufferings of others
- indifferent to her plea
- marked by a lack of interest; it is simply indifferent"
- an apathetic audience
- the universe is neither hostile nor friendly