Basic Details
Word: Indifferent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Not interested in something and not caring what happens; also only average in quality, neither good nor bad.
Synonyms: uninterested, unconcerned, apathetic, detached
Antonyms: concerned, interested, eager, caring
How to Spell Indifferent
Syllables: in - dif - fer - ent
Tricky part: The double f is the first trap, and the ending is ent, not ant. Indiffrent drops the e of fer.
Watch out for: indiferent, indifferant, indiffrent
Memory tip: Read it as in + different. Different already has its double f and its ent ending, so indifferent has them too.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The cat stayed indifferent to the new toy and went back to sleep.
Example 2: He seemed indifferent to the result, but he had practised for weeks.
Example 3: The hotel food was indifferent, though the view from the room was lovely.
Fun Fact
In older English, indifferent could mean fair and unbiased. A 1662 prayer book asks judges to give justice indifferently, meaning without taking sides.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to indifferent as used in the sentence:
The shopkeeper seemed indifferent to our complaint and went back to scrolling on his phone.
a) uninterested
b) detached
c) concerned
d) unconcerned
Show answer
c) concerned. He did not care at all; a concerned shopkeeper would have cared a lot.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
indifferrent
a) r
b) e
c) f
d) n
Show answer
a) r. Only the f is doubled; fer has a single r.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. anxous 2. indifferent 3. jellous 4. obedeint
a) not interested in something and not caring about it
b) worried and nervous
c) unhappy because someone has what you want
d) willing to do what you are told
Show answer
a) not interested in something and not caring about it. Indifferent is the correct spelling; jealous has ea and one l, obedient has ie and anxious needs an i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An indifferent cook makes food that is ____.
a) never cooked
b) only average
c) always excellent
d) very spicy
Show answer
b) only average
2. Which reaction shows indifference?
a) Shrugging and saying it doesn't matter
b) Crying with joy
c) Cheering loudly
d) Asking many eager questions
Show answer
a) Shrugging and saying it doesn't matter
