incapable of empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incapable of empathy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who lacks the ability to understand or share the feelings of others. Example: "His actions clearly show that he is incapable of empathy, as he never considers how his decisions affect those around him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"My character is incapable of empathy.

The Guardian - Film

Samuel does well to depict his unnamed character as an unmoveable force of destruction, incapable of empathy.

Independent

They bully younger children, torture animals, habitually lie and seem incapable of empathy or remorse, often despite normal family backgrounds.

The New York Times

Self-absorbed, interested in their own appearance, craving admiration, incapable of empathy – surely a disaster for any healthy relationship?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Khizr Khan told CNN's State of the Union Trump was "totally incapable of empathy", adding: "I want his family to counsel him.

The Guardian

Amid widespread astonishment at the conduct of the Republican presidential nominee, the family of the 27-year-old army captain Humayun Khan, who died in a suicide bombing in 2004, said Trump was morally deficient and incapable of empathy.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"It is here that the president could finally put to rest the narrative that he's a robot incapable of demonstrating empathy, let alone show rage," wrote Jonathan Capehart, an editorial writer for The Washington Post at the time.

The New York Times

It's as a collective – a people who used to rub along well enough, but seem increasingly incapable of tolerance, empathy or letting go of our cherished individual grievances – that we're failing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Psychopaths are incapable of feeling empathy and guilt, being responsible for most violent crimes.

European Psychiatry

If they sometimes felt sympathy for the mortals whose lives they repeatedly threw into havoc, they were incapable of real empathy.

Huffington Post

Nine years in office, he remains incapable of faking a measure of empathy, or of keeping a smirk from his lips when reporters ask legitimate questions about rising citizen anger over his administration's dismal performance in the crisis.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character or person as "incapable of empathy", provide specific examples of their behavior to illustrate this lack of emotional understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "incapable of empathy" as a blanket statement. Empathy exists on a spectrum, and while someone might struggle with it, complete absence is rare. Instead, consider specifying the situations or contexts in which empathy is lacking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incapable of empathy" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (often a person or character). It describes a quality or characteristic of that noun, indicating a lack of the capacity for empathy. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incapable of empathy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a lack of understanding or sharing the feelings of others, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "lacking in empathy" or "without empathy" exist, it's important to use the phrase judiciously, providing context and avoiding overgeneralizations. Be sure to consider if limited empathy is more accurate, as complete lack of empathy may be less common. Overall, the phrase is a useful descriptor when applied thoughtfully and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking in empathy

Replaces "incapable of" with "lacking in", a more direct way to express the absence of empathy.

without empathy

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the absence of empathy, simplifying the original structure.

devoid of empathy

Emphasizes a complete absence of empathy, using a stronger adjective.

unable to empathize

Transforms the phrase into a verb-based expression, focusing on the action of empathizing.

insensitive to others' feelings

Highlights the behavioral aspect of lacking empathy, focusing on the inability to perceive or react to the feelings of others.

showing no empathy

Focuses on the observable behavior indicating a lack of empathy.

emotionally detached

Describes a general state of emotional distance, which can imply a lack of empathy.

lacking emotional intelligence

Broader term suggesting a deficiency in understanding and managing emotions, including empathy.

callous and unfeeling

Emphasizes the cold and indifferent nature of someone who lacks empathy.

heartless

A simpler, more direct term for lacking compassion or empathy.

FAQs

How can I use "incapable of empathy" in a sentence?

You can use "incapable of empathy" to describe someone who cannot understand or share the feelings of others. For example: "The character's actions showed he was "incapable of empathy", never considering the impact of his decisions."

What are some alternatives to saying "incapable of empathy"?

Alternatives include "lacking in empathy", "without empathy", or "devoid of empathy", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to describe someone as completely "incapable of empathy"?

While the phrase is used, consider that empathy exists on a spectrum. It might be more accurate to describe someone as having limited empathy or struggling with empathy in certain situations, rather than being entirely "incapable of empathy".

What's the difference between "incapable of empathy" and "lacking empathy"?

"Incapable of empathy" suggests a fundamental inability to experience empathy, while "lacking empathy" implies a deficiency or absence of empathy that may not be absolute. The former is a stronger statement.