indifferently

I1N1D2I1F4F4E1R1E1N1T1L1Y4

adverb

Tolerably; passably.

UncommonScrabble 23

Meanings

adverbindifferently (comparative more indifferently, superlative most indifferently)

comparative more indifferently · superlative most indifferently

  1. In an indifferent manner.
    1. Without distinction; impartially, objectively.

      And make diuiſion equally, Of each mans goods indifferently, […]

      1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I
      1 more example

      Uiew wel my Camp, and ſpeake indifferently, Doo not my captaines and my ſouldiers looke As if they meant to conquer Affrica?

      c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii
    2. Without great care; without sufficient attention or thought.

      They might have been lifted bodily out of an indifferently written American crime novel.

      1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 3, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 222
      1 more example

      For the first ten years of nationalisation a further note of overall gloom was added by the depressing policy of unimaginative Regional colour schemes, indifferently applied.

      1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 251

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  6. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  7. Proto-Indo-European*d(w)is-
  8. Proto-Italic*dis-
  9. Latindis-
  10. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  12. Proto-Italic*ferō
  13. Latinferō
  14. Latindifferō
  15. Latindifferēns
  16. Latinindifferēns
  17. Old Frenchindifferent
  18. Englishindifferent
  19. Englishindifferently

From indifferent + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan indiferentment
  • indiferentmentin an indifferent manner
Czech lhostejně
  • lhostejněin an indifferent manner
Esperanto indiferente
  • indiferentein an indifferent manner
Finnish välinpitämättömästi, mitäänsanomattomasti
  • välinpitämättömästiin an indifferent manner
  • mitäänsanomattomastiin an indifferent manner
Irish ar nós cuma liom
  • ar nós cuma liomin an indifferent manner
Spanish indiferentemente
  • indiferentementein an indifferent manner
Cite this entry
APA

indifferently. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indifferently

MLA

“indifferently.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indifferently. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indifferently,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indifferently.

Source: indifferently on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.