I was indifferent

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was indifferent" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you weren't particularly affected by an event, or when you didn't have a strong opinion either way. For example: "When my friends discussed their plans for the weekend, I was indifferent; none of the activities interested me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I was indifferent to training, and to experience.

The Guardian - Film

Wind — to which I was indifferent — becomes a matter of life and death.

The New York Times - Magazine

In another he said of the hundreds of executions he ordered: "I was indifferent.

The New York Times

When asked if he liked Johnson personally, Flutie said, "I was indifferent".

The New York Times - Sports

I was indifferent to them until the summer of 1999, when I found myself spending every day with them.

The New Yorker

I was indifferent, like a typical guy, but I was happy when we had our son Abel and when we had Eli two and a half years later.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Let ( x_{i}^ ) be the distance from the center where the member of group i is indifferent between the two means of transportation.

Latin American Economic Review

We write xPiy if xRiy and not yRix ('individual i strictly prefers x to y'), and xIiy if xRiy and yRix ('individual i is indifferent between x and y').

SEP

Participants' stated their preferences for treatment and the strength of their choice using a 7-point adjectival scale (1--I definitely prefer metallic ball and socket; 4--I am indifferent; 7--I definitely prefer metallic ball).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

I didn't grow up in a culture where materialism was rejected, but there was an indifference to it, and on some level I am indifferent to it.

Independent

I am indifferent.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was indifferent" when you want to express a neutral stance or a lack of strong feeling towards something. Ensure the context clarifies what you are indifferent to for better understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "I was indifferent" when you actually mean you were unaware or uninformed. Indifference implies awareness but a lack of concern, whereas ignorance implies a lack of knowledge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was indifferent" functions as a statement of personal feeling or attitude. It expresses a lack of interest, concern, or emotional investment in a specific subject or situation, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was indifferent" is used to express a lack of interest or emotional investment. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While it's not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. Related phrases offer variations in tone, emphasizing different aspects of neutrality or lack of concern. When using the phrase, ensure you differentiate between indifference (awareness but no concern) and ignorance (lack of knowledge). As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, the phrase effectively conveys a state of emotional detachment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I wasn't interested

Simply states a lack of interest in something.

I didn't care either way

Emphasizes a lack of preference or concern about a particular outcome.

It made no difference to me

Highlights that something has no impact or consequence on the speaker.

I felt no strong emotion

Focuses on the absence of emotional response rather than a specific feeling of indifference.

I wasn't bothered

Indicates a lack of concern or annoyance.

I had no opinion on the matter

Highlights the absence of a formed judgment or perspective.

I remained neutral

Stresses impartiality and a conscious choice not to take sides.

I couldn't have cared less

Emphasizes a complete lack of interest or concern (often used hyperbolically).

I was not invested

Indicates a lack of emotional or personal stake in something.

I didn't give it a second thought

Shows the speaker quickly dismissed it and didn't worry about it.

FAQs

What does "I was indifferent" mean?

The phrase "I was indifferent" means you had no strong feelings or opinions about something; you were neither particularly interested nor uninterested.

How can I use "I was indifferent" in a sentence?

You can use "I was indifferent" to describe your reaction to a situation, such as, "When they announced the changes, "I was indifferent" because it didn't affect me."

What can I say instead of "I was indifferent"?

You can use alternatives like "I was uninterested", "I didn't care either way", or "I was unmoved" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am indifferent" or "I was indifferent"?

Both "I am indifferent" and "I was indifferent" are grammatically correct. "I am indifferent" describes your current state, while "I was indifferent" describes your state in the past.