WordGarden.iounmoved
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnmˈuːvd/
US
- /ənˈmuvd/
Meanings
Adjective
not emotionally affected, touched, or sympathetic
not persuaded or influenced to change one's view
remaining unchanged, especially in level, condition, or outcome
More meaningsFewer meanings
not moved from a place or position
Beyond the definition
To be unmoved by something usually means it does not change your feelings or your opinion. A sad story, a strong appeal, or a heated argument may affect other people deeply, but you remain calm and unchanged. It can describe someone who is not touched emotionally, and it can also describe someone who is not persuaded. In some cases, it suggests strength and self-control; in others, it sounds cold or uncaring.
The word unmoved describes a person or thing that does not change in response to what is happening around it. Most often, it is used for people. If someone is unmoved, they are not emotionally touched by something, or they are not persuaded by it. A sad story may leave others in tears, but one listener stays unmoved. A passionate speech may win over a crowd, but one voter remains unmoved and keeps the same opinion.
The force of the word comes from what does not happen. No softening, no sympathy, no change of mind. That is why it is stronger than simply saying someone is "not interested." It often suggests that something tried to have an effect but failed. You might be unmoved by an apology, by shocking news, or by an emotional request. In these cases, the word shows distance, firmness, or lack of feeling, depending on the situation.
It can also be used more literally for something that stays in the same place and is not moved, though that use is less common in everyday vocabulary cards than the emotional one. Depending on context, unmoved can sound admirable, as in calm under pressure, or negative, as in hard-hearted and distant. In short, it describes someone or something that remains unaffected, unchanged, or unconvinced when a response might normally be expected.
Examples
- 1
Personal apology
She apologized more than once, but he seemed unmoved.
- 2
Workplace request
The manager was unmoved by our request for more time.
- 3
Film reaction
The film won several awards, but it left me completely unmoved.
- Patternleave someone unmoved
fail to create a strong feeling or reaction
- 4
Investor reaction
Investors were largely unmoved by the company's warning about lower profits.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- stoic
- unswayed
- dispassionate
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- remain unmoved
- unmoved by
- unmoved expression
Word family
Explore
- emotional detachment
- composure
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unmovedadjective