Comments on: A word for the emotion you don't feel?

Question: A word for the emotion you don't feel?

coizero — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:36:00 -0800

Is there a word for: expecting to feel grief or ache of conscience and then not feeling it?

Synonyms for "numbness," "relief," and "surprise" aren't what I'm looking for; I need something specific. Example: In "Crimes & Misdemeanors," when the wealthy man reflects on how rapidly he was able to recover after having his mistress murdered.

Not limited to English ... a word from any language would be appreciated.

Thank you so much!

By: ~Sushma~

~Sushma~ — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:57:20 -0800

Apathy, perhaps?

By: brandz

brandz — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:07:19 -0800

NUMB?

EMPTY?

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:12:24 -0800

(unexpectedly) unaffected?

By: gjc

gjc — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:16:31 -0800

You're looking for a complicated word like ennui? I would have to think one of the symbolic languages are the only ones that would have such a "word".

Although the germans do enjoy shoving together 15 smaller words into one giant word. So you might be able to just make the word you're talking about. My favorite is (horribly misspelled) dingelieblingfreitzietbedungen. Literally, things I love in my free time to do.

By: mr. remy

mr. remy — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:21:26 -0800

anhedonic?

By: alms

alms — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:37:38 -0800

Relieved, free, emancipated, beyondgoodandevil.

By: frobozz

frobozz — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:37:52 -0800

Blank?

By: catatethebird

catatethebird — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:39:51 -0800

I don't think there is a specific word for this. Seems close to "lack of remorse" but I don't think there's a single word for that either. Callous? Seems that asking for a word that also implies that remorse was expected is a bit much. At least for English. But it is a terribly limited language, and unfortunately I don't know any other well enough.

By: Falling_Saint

Falling_Saint — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:47:17 -0800

Unrepentant?

By: rhizome

rhizome — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:37:59 -0800

indifferent?

By: dhartung

dhartung — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:56:38 -0800

unmoved & analogues

In the specific case you're thinking of the external descriptor might be "callous", but from his point of view perhaps "indifferent" or "impenitent" is closer. If a series of events has removed feeling, one can be "inured" (wasn't that an AskMe already?). In general one can be "dispassionate", but that tends to mean nothing affects you. If a habit, and expressed, it could be insouciance. More generally, and reflecting positive traits, there are words in the range of aplomb.

As for a specific word or phrase expressing relief at not experiencing guilt, I don't know that you're going to get closer than sang-froid. Something like an eerie calm, except for human emotion. The killing smile.

By: blue_wardrobe

blue_wardrobe — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:27:36 -0800

sang-froid

By: blue_wardrobe

blue_wardrobe — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:29:32 -0800

on preview: dhartung got there first.

By: blue_wardrobe

blue_wardrobe — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:32:18 -0800

Now, "insensible" can be a good word, because you can't make yourself "insensible" - you just find yourself insensible to x or y. So you could find yourself insensible to guilt, even though you had expected to feel guilty.

By: Rhaomi

Rhaomi — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:32:49 -0800

"Stoic", perhaps? My dictionary gives it as "One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain." Of course, that might be interpreted more as a general quality, rather than a feeling experienced in a specific situation, which seems to be what you're driving at.

"Detached" is also good.

By: mccarty.tim

mccarty.tim — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:53:41 -0800

Stolid would probably be better than stoic to describe it. Stolid means one is apathetic, lacks energy or emotion about something. It's used like stoic, but I think it better fits as a reaction beyond ones control than stoic. It has negative connotations, so it isn't postive. "Stoic," on the other hand, often describes brave, strong characters unaffected by the chaos and hardship surrounding them.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:11:40 -0800

I can think of no word that describes exactly what you mentioned. Perhaps we should invent one. Sansvexation?

By: Solomon

Solomon — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:47:23 -0800

Nonfeeling?

By: buka

buka — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:25:57 -0800

underwhelmed?

By: kristin

kristin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:58:20 -0800

alexithymic?

By: lubujackson

lubujackson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:07:26 -0800

Vacant?

By: MiffyCLB

MiffyCLB — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:22:24 -0800

Guilt or relief, depending...