Could care less vs. Could not care less

Could care less

/kʊd kɛr lɛs/

An expression used to indicate that someone does not care at all about something, often used sarcastically or ironically.

Examples:

He might say he could care less, but he really does.You insist you could care less about the results, don't you?When it comes to dancing, I truly could care less.

Synonyms:

unconcerned

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Could not care less

/kʊd nɒt keə lɛs/

Used to emphasize that one is not at all concerned or interested

Examples:

She could not care less about what others think of her.He could not care less if the concert got canceled.Frankly, I could not care less about their argument.

Synonyms:

indifferentunconcernedapatheticdisinterestednonchalant

Antonyms:

concernedinterestedattentivecuriouseager

Ways to tell them apart:

• Could care less is often used informally but does not logically express a lack of interest, since it implies there's still room to care less.
• Could not care less clearly conveys the meaning of having no interest or concern at all.
• Remember that could not care less means the least amount of care, and it logically negates any caring.
• A way to remember this might be to associate the negative form not as ensuring total disinterest.
• If youre using the phrase to express no care at all, opt for could not care less' to avoid confusion.