Dear SuperUser,
If I understand your question correctly, by the terms “socially and publically” you are describing an individual who is not only selfish and thoughtless (or, uncaring) when alone (that is, privately) but also a person who is willing to display those same inappropriate attitudes toward others socially and enact those behaviors publically.
Though you mention that you feel that the term “antisocial” describes a “mental state rather than behavior,” it is in the nature of things that the thought process precedes the behavioral enactment. What is important in differentiating the average citizen behaving badly from the antisocial citizen behaving badly is a prevalent pattern of such behavior.
What follows is a rough hierarchical list which proceeds progressively from the least troubling, least serious mental attitudes (which, remember, usually result in bad actions) to the most serious mental diagnoses and correspondingly bad actions.
1. Selfish adjective: (of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure. (google.com)
2. Uncaring adjective: uncaring not displaying sympathy or concern for others. (google.com)
3. Moral turpitude: a legal concept in the United States and some other countries that refers to «conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals.» This term appears in U.S. immigration law beginning in the 19th century. Moral Terpitude
4. Antisocial Personality Disorder: Antisocial personality disorder is a type of chronic mental condition in which a person’s ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional—and destructive. People with antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for right and wrong and often disregard the rights, wishes and feelings of others.
Those with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others either harshly or with callous indifference. They may often violate the law, landing in frequent trouble, yet they show no guilt or remorse. They may lie, behave violently or impulsively, and have problems with drug and alcohol use. These characteristics typically make people with antisocial personality disorder unable to fulfill responsibilities related to family, work or school.
Antisocial Personality Disorder5. Sociopath noun: a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience. Sociopathy
6. Psychopathy noun: (aka–-though sometimes distinguished from–-sociopathy) psychopathy is traditionally defined as a personality disorder characterized by enduring antisocial behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and disinhibited or bold behavior.
Psychopathy
It’s not nice to meet someone who doesn’t care about others’ feelings or has no regard for others. To describe these people, you might find it difficult to pick a word out of thin air. This article will show you the best descriptive words to reference these people.
What Do You Call Someone Who Doesn’t Care About Others’ Feelings?
There are plenty of good words to describe someone who doesn’t care about others’ feelings. They include:
- Disregard
- Selfish
- Thoughtless
- Apathetic
- Oblivious
- Uncaring
- Sociopath
- Antisocial
The preferred word to describe someone who doesn’t care about others’ feelings is “disregard.” We use it to show that someone has no care or respect for anything else that other people might feel. Even when presented with others’ feelings, they’ll often ignore them.
Disregard
“Disregard” is something that people demonstrate when they don’t want anything to do with other people’s feelings. It’s more common than you think, and it’s especially prevalent in people who think their own problems far outweigh the problems of others.
The definition of “disregard,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “the fact of showing no care or respect for something.”
We can use “disregard” whenever we want to talk about someone not caring or respecting something else. While it doesn’t have to strictly refer to people, it works really well when we’re talking about people who care very little (if at all) about the feelings of others.
“Disregard” can work in the following ways:
- He has a blatant disregard for anyone else’s feelings, and I can’t stand being around him.
- The disregard he demonstrates shows that he couldn’t care less what any of us think.
Selfish
“Selfish” is a common word we use to describe many antisocial issues in people. When talking about someone who only cares about themselves and not about other people, it’s common to use.
The definition of “selfish,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “caring only about what you want or need without any thought for the needs or wishes of other people.”
Often, selfish people simply don’t care about the feelings of others because they’re too busy worrying about their own feelings. They don’t make for very good friends, which is evident if you know any truly selfish people in your life.
You might see selfish people in the following:
- You’re too selfish to ever be taken seriously. You should think about other people’s feelings for once.
- They’re both selfish and don’t care what anyone else thinks about them.
Thoughtless
If someone is thoughtless, it usually means that they don’t give a second thought to people’s feelings. Instead, they will act based on how they think they should act, which can result in doing things that might upset others.
The definition of “thoughtless,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not considering how your actions or words may upset someone.”
Sometimes, thoughtless people cause issues for others entirely by accident. They may not realize how harmful their behavior can be, but when they do, it’s too late for them to change anything about what they’ve done.
Thoughtless people might appear in the following ways:
- Stop being so thoughtless and tell me how you really feel. I’m too exhausted to argue!
- You’ve hurt my feelings one too many times, you thoughtless oaf!
Apathetic
Someone who is apathetic shows no emotion or interest when it comes to other people’s feelings. They’ll often choose to avoid taking action to help others, and they’d rather just spend their time not caring about anything at all.
The definition of “apathetic,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “showing no interest or energy and unwilling to take action, especially over something important.”
Apathy is the opposite of empathy, which we use to describe someone who is so in touch with other people’s feelings that they’ll feel the same emotions.
Apathetic people can be seen as follows:
- She’s the most apathetic person I’ve ever met, and she’s never shown an ounce of care toward anyone.
- Your apathy is a tragedy, and it makes all the people closest to you turn away.
Oblivious
While “oblivious” isn’t the best word to describe people who don’t care about others’ feelings, it still works well to talk about them in specific cases. Oblivious people often don’t realize when they’ve done or said something to upset somebody they know.
The definition of “oblivious,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you.”
For oblivious people, it’s hard to understand why their actions might hurt others’ feelings. They will simply do things without a second thought (much like being “thoughtless”).
Oblivious is a great word that we can work into sentences in the following ways:
- You’re so oblivious that you don’t even notice when your own daughter needs a shoulder to cry on!
- Stop being so oblivious and take him! He needs all the help he can get from his mother right now!
Uncaring
“Uncaring” works when we want to talk about someone who doesn’t worry themselves with the troubles of others. They’ll always think about themselves first and rarely do anything to help out those in need.
The definition of “uncaring,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not worrying about other people’s troubles or doing anything to help them.”
Being “uncaring” is a very undesirable trait, and it’s usually quite easy to spot in certain people.
“Uncaring” works as follows:
- He’s by far the most uncaring person I’ve ever met, without a single care in the world for how other people feel.
- You’re too uncaring for us, and we don’t want anything more to do with you until you can learn what empathy is.
Sociopath
A sociopath, or someone who exhibits sociopathic tendencies, is someone who is unable to behave in a way that’s expected in society. It works to explain someone who doesn’t care for others’ feelings, even though it’s a more broad term than that.
The definition of “sociopath,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a person who is completely unable or unwilling to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.”
It’s possible to diagnose sociopaths clinically, which we can do for people of all ages if we need an explanation as to why they might struggle with certain things in life.
However, sociopathic behavior comes in many forms. One such form is that of not caring for the feelings of others, which is why we included it here.
Sociopathic behavior can present itself as follows:
- Both of these guys are sociopaths, and we’ve had to remove them from society to keep everyone else safe.
- Stop being a sociopathic freak and start helping us to understand why you don’t care!
Antisocial
Antisocial behavior is a lighter form of sociopathic behavior. We can apply it to any behavior that is deliberately harmful to others or to society. It also works well when we want to talk about someone who doesn’t care about the feelings of others.
The definition of “antisocial,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “often avoiding spending time with other people.”
Antisocial people will usually make it clear that they’re not interested in getting to know other people. They’ll also tell others that their feelings are irrelevant in some way, so that they know they can’t confide in antisocial people.
“Antisocial” can work in the following ways:
- We’re both antisocial when it comes to parties, so don’t bother talking to us about how your day went.
- And the most antisocial person I’ve ever met can be awarded to you, that’s for sure!
Why Do Some People Not Care About Others’ Feelings?
There are many reasons why some people do not care about others’ feelings.
People might not care about others’ feelings if they have too much to think about in their own life. If their problems are more important to them than the feelings of others, then that’s up to them. Some people just don’t like other people, which could be a reason for it.
While not caring about others’ feelings is generally a bad personality trait, it could simply come down to someone experiencing problems in their own lives that outweigh those of the other people.
Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules. Some people just don’t like being around or conversing with others and will do anything to make sure that other people are aware of this.
Is It Bad To Not Care About Others’ Feelings?
Generally, not caring about the feelings of others is a negative personality trait, but it doesn’t always have to be.
It is not inherently bad to not care about others’ feelings. It is not your job to make sure everyone else feels happy all the time, but it is your job to make sure you don’t do anything that’s obviously going to upset someone based on what you know about them.
While you don’t have any obligations to look after the feelings of others, it still helps to be as mindful of them as possible. If you know that your actions could harm someone else’s feelings, it’s best to try and avoid doing them.
You may also like: 10 Words For Someone Who Pretends To Care (Fake Kindness)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
- Quiz
- Related Content
- More About Apathetic
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ ap-uh—thet-ik ]
/ ˌæp əˈθɛt ɪk /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
having or showing little or no emotion: apathetic behavior.
not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive: an apathetic audience.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
OTHER WORDS FROM apathetic
ap·a·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
Words nearby apathetic
apartmentize, Passage to India, A, apast, apastron, apatetic, apathetic, apathy, apatite, apatosaurus, APB, APC
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
MORE ABOUT APATHETIC
What does apathetic mean?
Apathetic means uncaring.
It’s an adjective form of apathy—the state of not caring. It can also mean the absence or suppression of emotion or passion.
Apathetic is especially used to describe people with a lack of interest or concern about things, especially those that others find important or exciting.
Apathetic often means about the same thing as indifferent, but it’s more often used in the context of someone’s lack of action when action is needed.
The word apathetic is typically used in a negative way to criticize someone as being irresponsible or insensitive. When someone is accused of being apathetic, it usually means the person making the accusation thinks the apathetic person should care more—or at all.
Example: Your generation is astoundingly apathetic—it’s like none of you care about any of the big problems in the world!
Where does apathetic come from?
The first records of the word apathetic come from around 1740. Its base word, apathy, comes from the Greek apathḗs, meaning “unfeeling,” from a-, “a lack of,” and pathos, “feeling.” The same root forms the basis of words such as empathy and sympathy, and apathetic is made into an adjective in the same way as empathetic, sympathetic, and pathetic.
Describing someone as apathetic doesn’t necessarily mean they feel nothing. But it’s most commonly used to describe someone who doesn’t care enough to do something, especially in a situation that calls for action. In this way, people considered apathetic are often to have an intentionally indifferent attitude that they’ve adopted in order to avoid dealing with problems, taking on challenges, or getting involved with difficult situations.
Did you know … ?
How is apathetic used in real life?
The word apathetic is usually used in a way that’s critical of the people it’s used to describe—even when people apply it to themselves.
being too passionate, being entirely apathetic – I’m just praying for a balance, a happy median, a sweet spot
— Cyn (@cynthialovely) June 6, 2017
I suspect that’s how it starts. Someone does wrong, feels bad about it, doesn’t make changes to fix the situation, then grows tired of feeling bad. They become apathetic toward their own feelings of wrong. And one day, they just smother the spark and go «So what?»
— an arch on (@anarchonbury) September 3, 2020
#WritingCommunity, do y’all go thru periods where you’re just completely apathetic about writing? I haven’t been able to get anything significant done on either WIP in like 2 wks. All I feel like doing is reading scripts and watching shows, am I a lazy lump or is this normal?
— Taylor Coriell (@frecklysoprano1) August 31, 2020
Try using apathetic!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of apathetic?
A. indifferent
B. involved
C. unconcerned
D. detached
Words related to apathetic
callous, indifferent, laid-back, passive, stoic, uninterested, blah, cold, cool, could care less, couldn’t care less, draggy, emotionless, flat, impassive, insensible, languid, moony, stolid, unconcerned
How to use apathetic in a sentence
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Both were victims because they were too apathetic to find a better place to leave their equipment.
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So often, lately, movie creatives seem not only apathetic about trying to capture it, but ignorant that such an it factor even existed in the first place.
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Nobody leaves feeling apathetic about Ashley, the mark of a well-written character.
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As automation continues to entrench itself in every aspect of search marketing, it may be easy to become apathetic towards it or even resent how these developments change our workflows.
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This would empower individuals to make thoughtful and informed decisions about their data privacy, versus the rushed and apathetic experience that accept cookies banners create.
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He began his education at Franklin & Marshall, but was academically apathetic.
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“The song was awkward for Marxist critics because of its apathetic character,” the scholar Franz Mennemeier noted.
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Pitre is right, combat is about screw-ups, bad officers, apathetic contractors, regret, unfairness, and impossible missions.
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According to a Pew Poll in December, Americans are more apathetic about any kind of military intervention than ever before.
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Traditionally worn by sixth-graders and jocks and those who lounge aggressively, the draw-stringed trouser is defiantly apathetic.
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He tried to console her, to amuse her, but what distraction could be found to appeal to that monstrously apathetic nature?
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At the sound of the word divorce the apathetic old draper seemed to wake up.
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How could the apathetic be awakened, the discouraged stimulated, the overworked rested and cheered?
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But the mean, where it dwelt chiefly, was an apathetic fascination, partly of horror; as of Europa in mid ocean with her bull.
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But the other men were less apathetic, and had followed the brave man to the door.
British Dictionary definitions for apathetic
adjective
having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent
Derived forms of apathetic
apathetically, adverb
Word Origin for apathetic
C18: from apathy + pathetic
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
The way Reverse Dictionary works is pretty simple. It simply looks through tonnes of dictionary definitions and grabs the ones that most closely match your search query. For example, if you type something like «longing for a time in the past», then the engine will return «nostalgia». The engine has indexed several million definitions so far, and at this stage it’s starting to give consistently good results (though it may return weird results sometimes). It acts a lot like a thesaurus except that it allows you to search with a definition, rather than a single word. So in a sense, this tool is a «search engine for words», or a sentence to word converter.
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Posted byu/[deleted]6 years ago
You know what I mean. I’m sure when a lot of us were younger, we had writing projects that we toiled on endlessly, without caring about quality. Now, I know it’s important to have a sense of what’s good and all that, but wouldn’t it be fun to be able to get an idea, and then just write it all down and finish it, without worrying about it? That way, we can clear up some of the ideas in our brains, and we can get some sense of completion. But how does one write like that, and get so much done in a day, when sometimes it’s hard to even get a few pages in? How do we make it fun again, like how it is when we’re younger?