lacking empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

"lacking empathy" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
It means that someone is unable to understand or share the feelings of others. Example: The politician's speech was concerning, as it seemed he was lacking empathy for the struggles of everyday citizens.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Politicians are routinely accused of lacking empathy, with some justification.

The Guardian - Opinion

Prof Ian Hickie accused Nitschke of lacking empathy and said his ideas were "unacceptable".

The Guardian

Biblical commenters consider the other, good son whiny and priggish, cruelly lacking empathy for his brother.

The New Yorker

But the sneering, celebratory tone of much of the criticism, as well as lacking empathy, felt ill-advised.

The Guardian - Sport

Lacking empathy, people act only out of self-interest, without regard for the well-being or feelings of others.

The New York Times - Health

This future is bleaker than Hanson's – lacking empathy, those robots wouldn't have a sentimental affection for us as their progenitors – but essentially the same.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

You lack empathy".

The New York Times - Books

People often think journalists lack empathy.

The Guardian

The doctors don't lack empathy, he said.

The New York Times - Health

Too many letters lack empathy because of their use".

The Guardian

He lacks empathy because he hasn't read literature.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character or person, use "lacking empathy" to highlight a specific deficiency in their ability to understand or share the feelings of others, providing context or examples to illustrate this lack.

Common error

Avoid using "lacking empathy" as a blanket criticism without providing specific instances. Ensure your description accurately reflects a pattern of behavior, not just isolated incidents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lacking empathy" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, describing a quality or characteristic of someone or something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and commonly used in written English. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its function in attributing a deficiency in understanding or sharing the feelings of others.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lacking empathy" is a valid and commonly used phrase to describe the absence of understanding or sharing the feelings of others. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific domains. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific examples to support the claim and to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives like ""devoid of empathy"" or "insensitive" can also be used to convey similar meanings. Remember that empathy involves understanding, while sympathy involves caring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devoid of empathy

Emphasizes a complete absence of empathy.

without empathy

A more straightforward way to express the absence of empathy.

deficient in empathy

Indicates a measurable shortage or inadequacy of empathy.

unable to empathize

Highlights the inability to understand the feelings of others.

insensitive

Focuses on the behavioral manifestation of lacking empathy, highlighting a lack of consideration for others' feelings.

uncompassionate

Stresses the absence of pity and concern for the suffering of others.

unsympathetic

Highlights an inability to share or understand the feelings of others.

callous

Suggests a hardened indifference to the feelings of others.

heartless

Emphasizes a lack of emotional warmth and consideration.

emotionally detached

Focuses on the psychological distance from others' emotions.

FAQs

How can I use "lacking empathy" in a sentence?

You can use "lacking empathy" to describe someone's inability to understand or share the feelings of others. For example: "The politician's response to the crisis showed them as "devoid of empathy"".

What are some alternative ways to say "lacking empathy"?

Alternatives include phrases such as ""devoid of empathy"", "without empathy", or "insensitive", which all convey a similar meaning of not understanding or sharing the feelings of others.

Is it correct to say someone "lacks empathy"?

Yes, saying someone "lacks empathy" is correct and conveys the same meaning as "lacking empathy". Both phrases are grammatically sound and widely understood. For instance, "The narcissist "lacks empathy" -- the ability to put himself in other people's shoes".

What is the difference between "lacking empathy" and "being unsympathetic"?

"Lacking empathy" refers to the inability to understand or share another person's feelings, while "being unsympathetic" implies a lack of compassion or concern for others, even if they understand their feelings. Empathy is about understanding, sympathy is about caring.