The antonyms for the phrase "were apathetic" are words such as enthusiastic, interested, passionate, concerned, alert, animated, engaged, curious, and attentive. These words express a sense of energy and involvement, the opposite of the indifference and lack of interest that characterize apathy. Being enthusiastic suggests a lively and eager attitude towards something, while being interested conveys a state of attention and fascination. Passionate implies a strong and powerful emotion, while being concerned denotes a feeling of care and responsibility. Being alert and animated both suggest a state of heightened awareness and liveliness, while being engaged and curious express an eagerness to explore and learn. Finally, being attentive signifies a focused and careful attention to detail.