Learn English – the antonym of “single minded”

antonymssingle-word-requests

Example sentence:

However much in earnest he might be, he had
nothing of the single-mindedness that belongs to a fanatic. (221, Nineteen Eighty-Four)

The word "single-minded" seem to suggest a complete and one dimensional self-devotion to a single motivation. (Which is a great way of creating a boring antagonist if I ever saw one)

I am wondering what would be some of its antonym?

The following would not work:

  • half-hearted
  • lackadaisical

They would not work because they are specific to a certain action but does not characterize a person in general, and they show a lack of motivation, rather than a diversity of motivations.

Sentence to apply the word to:

"You may very well think that I am a single-minded fanatic, but I am in fact just as complex and ___ as you are."

Best Answer

You are looking for a word that speaks of "a diversity of motivations".

Try multifaceted.

Multifaceted adjective 2 Having many different aspects or features: his extraordinary and multifaceted career - ODO

Your sample sentence will then be:

You may very well think that I am a single-minded fanatic, but I am in fact just as complex and multifaceted as you are.

Here's an example of actual use, found on the internet:

Examining Motivation in Online Distance Learning Environments: Complex, Multifaceted, and Situation-Dependent - M Hartnett, A St. George and J Dron

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