underreact
Respond too mildly
To underreact is to respond with less emotion, urgency, or action than a situation warrants.
The opposite of overreact.
Someone who underreacts to bad news might seem calm or indifferent when alarm would be expected: He completely underreacted when I told him the house was on fire.
The term often implies criticism—that more response was needed.
Lacking interest or concern
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- unbotheredNot disturbed or concerned
- disinterestedFree from personal stakes
- uninterestedLacking curiosity or concern
blasé · insouciant · careless · negligent · dismissive · shrugging · complacent · incurious
Uncomplaining endurer of hardship
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- flatLacking vertical variation
- blankWithout marks or content
expressionless · wooden · stony · deadpan · poker-faced · undemonstrative · reserved · restrained
Calm and self-possessed
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
- coolheadedCalm when stressed
- level-headedCalm and sensible
- collectedCalm and self-possessed
self-possessed · even-keeled · measured · unfazed · unruffled · steady · poised · temperate
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- distantFar away or aloof
- remoteDistant or controller
- withdrawnEmotionally distant, disengaged
- uninvolvedNot taking part
disengaged · disconnected · removed · standoffish · hands-off · passive · noncommittal · unresponsive
indifferent
Lacking interest or concern
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- unbotheredNot disturbed or concerned
- disinterestedFree from personal stakes
uninterested · blasé · insouciant · careless · negligent · dismissive · shrugging · complacent · incurious · heedless
stoic
Uncomplaining endurer of hardship
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- flatLacking vertical variation
blank · expressionless · wooden · stony · deadpan · poker-faced · undemonstrative · reserved · restrained · subdued
composed
Calm and self-possessed
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
- coolheadedCalm when stressed
- level-headedCalm and sensible
collected · self-possessed · even-keeled · measured · unfazed · unruffled · steady · poised · temperate · equanimous
aloof
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
uninvolved · disengaged · disconnected · removed · standoffish · hands-off · passive · noncommittal · unresponsive · unreactive
underreactoverreact
Respond disproportionately to something
freak out · panic · make a mountain out of a molehill · go overboard · fly off the handle
underreaction, underreacting, underreacts, underreacted, underreactions