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Disinterested vs Motivated - What's the difference?

disinterested | motivated |

As adjectives the difference between disinterested and motivated

is that disinterested is having no stake or interest in the outcome; free of bias, impartial while motivated is enthusiastic, especially about striving toward a goal.

As a verb motivated is

(motivate).

disinterested

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having no stake or interest in the outcome; free of bias, impartial.
  • * 1791 , (James Boswell), Life of Samuel Johnson :
    • Sir, you have a right to that kind of respect, and are arguing for yourself. I am supporting the principle, and am disinterested in doing it, as I have no such right.
  • * 1919 , , :
    • With his disinterested passion for art, he had a real desire to call the attention of the wise to a talent which was in the highest degree original; [...]
  • *2011 , (Steven Pinker), The Better Angels of Our Nature , Penguin 2012, p. 220:
  • *:People are better off abjuring violence, if everyone else agrees to do so, and vesting authority in a disinterested third party.
  • * '>citation
  • Uninterested, lacking interest.
  • * 1684 , Contempl. State of Man I. x
    • How dis-interested are they in all Worldly matters, since they fling their Wealth and Riches into the Sea.
  • * 1936 , (Djuna Barnes), Nightwood , Faber & Faber 2007, p. 43:
    • Robin took to wandering again, to intermittent travel from which she came back hours, days later, disinterested .
  • * 1967 , Tommy Frazer, The Sun (Baltimore), "A 'Doctor' Of Karate", March 27
    • Those spotted are usually taught so slowly that they grow disinterested and quit.

    Usage notes

    *Leading authorities consider usage of this word with the meaning of uninterested acceptable,

    References

    motivated

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (motivate)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Enthusiastic, especially about striving toward a goal.
    • We're looking for a highly motivated individual who will fit into our fast-paced corporate culture.
  • * 2001 , Norman E. Wallen, Jack R. Fraenkel, Educational Research: A Guide to the Process , page 177,
    • It seems reasonable to assume that academically able students are more motivated' toward academic activities than those less able, and that students from higher socioeconomic levels are more ' motivated toward school than those from lower socioeconomic levels.
  • * 2009 , J. Dan Rothwell, In Mixed Company: Communicating in Small Groups and Teams , page 373,
    • In every instance, she has expressed enormous frustration with social loafers—virtual group members whose lackluster motivation leaves the bulk of group projects to members who are more motivated to excel.
  • * 2010 , Leif H. Smith, Todd M. Kays, Sports Psychology for Dummies , page 47,
    • As an athlete, you'll feel more motivated when you're confident in your skill set and believe in your ability to continue to improve.