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indifferent

3 syllables

adjective noun adverb

Quick answer

As an adjective, indifferent means ambivalent. As a noun, it means a person who is indifferent or apathetic.

Meanings of indifferent

21 meanings

adjective

Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.
“He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way.”
Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.
“She responded with an indifferent shrug.”
Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).
“The long distance and the indifferent roads made the journey impossible.”
“The performance of Blue Jays has been indifferent this season.”
Having no preference.
“I am indifferent between the two plans.”
Not making a difference; without significance or importance.
“Even if one appliance consumes an indifferent amount of energy when left on stand-by overnight, together they can represent 10% of the electricity demand of a household.”
mechanicsBeing in the state of neutral equilibrium.
Marked by a lack of interest
“an apathetic audience”
“the universe is neither hostile nor friendly; it is simply indifferent”
Similar: apathetic
Showing no care or concern in attitude or action
“indifferent to the sufferings of others”
“indifferent to her plea”
(usually followed by ‘to’) unwilling or refusing to pay heed
“deaf to her warnings”
Similar: deaf
(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”
Similar: immaterial
Fairly poor to not very good
“has an indifferent singing voice”
“has indifferent qualifications for the job”
Having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
“inert matter”
“an indifferent chemical in a reaction”
Similar: inert, neutral
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”
Characterized by a lack of partiality
“a properly indifferent jury”
“an unbiased account of her family problems”
Similar: unbiased, unbiassed

Older and rare meanings (2)

datedUnbiased, impartial, judging fairly.
obsoleteNot different, matching.

noun

A person who is indifferent or apathetic.

adverb

obsoleteTo some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.
“The face of the Moon appearing to me to be full of indifferent high mountains.”
obsoleteWithout distinction or preference for some over others.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).