met with indifference

USAGE SUMMARY

"met with indifference" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone responds to something without interest or concern. Example: "Her proposal was met with indifference by the committee." Alternative expressions include "received with apathy" and "greeted with indifference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He says he met with indifference.

The New York Times

However, it was met with indifference by wartime moviegoers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then, pedestrian sketches by the obscure Jules Rabannes, who worked in North Africa, met with indifference.

The New York Times - Arts

Their efforts were met with indifference and hostility from wary politicians.

The New York Times

My attempts to evangelise cricket in the classroom were met with indifference and scorn.

The Guardian - Sport

His proclamation that he wanted to change his name to Orgasm was met with indifference.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. White has long said he tried to combat hazing, but was met with indifference by university leaders.

The New York Times

His calls for the restoration of the Games, therefore, were often met with indifference or outright resistance.

Independent

It can be a thankless job that sometimes is met with indifference, skepticism and even outright hostility.

The New York Times - Science

Long gone are the days when a crucial tactical move in an international tournament would have been met with indifference.

The New York Times

The 1851 work was met with indifference initially, but has gone on to achieve hallowed status in the American literary canon.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific audiences, such as "met with indifference by consumers" or "met with indifference from the authorities", to provide clarity on who failed to respond.

Common error

Avoid using "met with indifference" when the reaction was actually negative or hostile. Indifference implies a vacuum of interest (a non-reaction), whereas opposition implies an active and often energetic rejection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "met with indifference" functions as a passive construction typically used to describe the reception of an idea, action, or creative work. According to Ludwig AI, the use of the past participle "met" combined with the prepositional phrase "with indifference" emphasizes the state of the audience rather than the action of the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "met with indifference" is a robust and widely used expression in contemporary English, as evidenced by the high volume of examples found in Ludwig. It serves a critical role in journalistic and historical narratives to describe the failure of an idea, product, or movement to gain traction. While it is grammatically correct and versatile, writers should ensure they are not conflating a lack of interest with active resistance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal register, making it ideal for professional analysis and reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greeted with apathy

Implies a more collective or emotional lack of concern from a group

received with indifference

A more formal synonym often used in business or academic contexts

encountered a lack of interest

A literal and descriptive alternative to the main phrase

fell on deaf ears

An idiomatic expression suggesting the message was heard but intentionally ignored

elicited no reaction

Highly clinical or technical way to describe a lack of impact

met with a lukewarm response

Suggests a mild or unenthusiastic reaction rather than total lack of interest

was largely ignored

Focuses on the resulting state of being overlooked rather than the initial reaction

greeted with silence

Describes a literal lack of verbal or written feedback

faced a wall of silence

A more dramatic way to describe being ignored, often in a confrontational context

went unnoticed

Describes something that failed to attract any attention at all

FAQs

What can I say instead of "met with indifference"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/greeted+with+apathy" target="_blank" rel="alternative">greeted with apathy", "<a href="/s/received+with+indifference" target="_blank" rel="alternative">received with indifference" or "<a href="/s/fell+on+deaf+ears" target="_blank" rel="alternative">fell on deaf ears" depending on your intended tone.

Is "met with indifference" formal?

Yes, it is suitable for professional and academic writing. For a slightly more descriptive approach, consider using "<a href="/s/encountered+a+lack+of+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">encountered a lack of interest".

Does "met with indifference" always imply failure?

Usually, yes. It suggests that an effort failed to make an impact. If the goal was to avoid attention, you might say it was "<a href="/s/largely+overlooked" target="_blank" rel="alternative">largely overlooked" instead.

What is the difference between "met with indifference" and "met with silence"?

While "met with indifference" describes the attitude of the audience, "<a href="/s/greeted+with+silence" target="_blank" rel="alternative">greeted with silence" describes the literal lack of sound or response, which is often a symptom of indifference.