indifferent to + thing/person
Showing lack of interest or concern
This is the standard pattern in most contexts.
They were indifferent to public opinion.
Indifferent to, about, towards, as or between?
Indifferent is most commonly followed by to. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts or may not be standard combinations.
Quick answer
How to use indifferent with prepositions
Indifferent to is the standard and most common pattern. Indifferent about is also used, especially for lack of concern about a topic. Indifferent towards exists and is similar to indifferent to but slightly more formal. Indifferent as and indifferent between are generally not standard combinations.
She seemed indifferent to criticism.
He is indifferent about politics.
The manager remained indifferent towards their complaints.
He is indifferent about politics.
The manager remained indifferent towards their complaints.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
indifferent about + topic
Talking about subjects or issues
About is common when discussing attitudes toward topics.
She feels indifferent about fashion.
indifferent towards + person/group
Using a more formal alternative
Towards has a similar meaning to to but sounds slightly more formal.
The government appeared indifferent towards local concerns.
be indifferent to whether + clause
Expressing lack of preference
This structure shows that the outcome does not matter to someone.
He is indifferent to whether the meeting happens today or tomorrow.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
indifferent to
She is indifferent to praise.
Standard pattern for lack of concern or interest.
indifferent about
He is indifferent about the final result.
Used for attitudes toward a subject or issue.
indifferent towards
They seemed indifferent towards the proposal.
More formal alternative to indifferent to.
indifferent as
Indifferent as is not a standard combination in this meaning.
Use indifferent to or indifferent about instead.
indifferent between
He is indifferent between the two options.
Possible in the sense of having no preference, but more natural English often uses indifferent to or does not mind which.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using as after indifferent
As is not normally used after indifferent in this meaning.
✕ She is indifferent as criticism. ✓ She is indifferent to criticism.Using between awkwardly
Between is uncommon after indifferent.
✕ He is indifferent between tea and coffee. ✓ He is indifferent to tea and coffee.Choosing the wrong preposition
To is the safest and most common choice.
✕ They were indifferent for the outcome. ✓ They were indifferent to the outcome.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. She seems indifferent ___ the criticism.
2. He is indifferent ___ politics.
3. The committee remained indifferent ___ local complaints.
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Frequently asked questions
Is indifferent to more common than indifferent about?
Yes. Indifferent to is the standard pattern in most situations.
Can I say indifferent towards?
Yes. It is correct and slightly more formal than indifferent to.
Is indifferent between correct?
It can appear when talking about no preference, but it is less natural than other structures in modern English.
Related preposition guides
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