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Indifferent vs Distant - What's the difference?

indifferent | distant |

As adjectives the difference between indifferent and distant

is that indifferent is not caring or concerned; uninterested, apathetic while distant is far off (physically, logically or mentally).

As an adverb indifferent

is to some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.

indifferent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not caring or concerned; uninterested, apathetic.
  • He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn't affect him, either way.
  • 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.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • The staterooms are in indifferent order.
  • Having no preference or bias, being impartial.
  • ''I am indifferent between the two plans.
  • * Addison
  • indifferent in his choice to sleep or die
  • 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.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Dangers are to me indifferent .
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • Everything in the world is indifferent but sin.
  • * Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • His slightest and most indifferent acts were odious in the clergyman's sight.
  • (mechanics) Being in the state of neutral equilibrium.
  • Quotations

    * , act 4, scene 1: *: Let their heads be sleekly combed their blue coats brushed and their garters of an indifferent knit

    Adverb

  • (obsolete) To 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...

    Usage notes

    * Now obsolete, but very common c. 1600-1730.

    References

    * ----

    distant

    English

    Alternative forms

    * distaunt (obsolete) * dystant (obsolete) * dystaunt (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Far off (physically, logically or mentally).
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.}}
  • Emotionally unresponsive or unwilling to express genuine feelings.