Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lackadaisical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lackadaisical are languid, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

Where would languid be a reasonable alternative to lackadaisical?

The meanings of languid and lackadaisical largely overlap; however, languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

In what contexts can languorous take the place of lackadaisical?

Although the words languorous and lackadaisical have much in common, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is listless a more appropriate choice than lackadaisical?

While the synonyms listless and lackadaisical are close in meaning, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

When could spiritless be used to replace lackadaisical?

While in some cases nearly identical to lackadaisical, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lackadaisical Turmoil and lackadaisical effort created a negative narrative around the team. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025 The first one was a bit painful, as McCabe failed to take away the passing lane on the initial breakout pass, and Rielly was too lackadaisical and failed to get his stick in the shooting lane. Kevin Papetti, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 And finally, Maxey reportedly called him out in a team meeting for his lack of conditioning and lackadaisical play. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 28 Nov. 2024 Performances such as Wednesday’s, where the Bucks are locked in from the start and focused on their goals for a full 48 minutes, are what has made the team’s lackadaisical outings against teams destined for the NBA Draft lottery so disappointing this season. Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lackadaisical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lackadaisical
Adjective
  • Looking Ahead: After looking listless and broken for almost all of calendar year 2025, Cincinnati has ripped off a three-game winning streak to resuscitate its at-large hopes.
    Jim Root, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The result — final scores crept into the 200s during what were essentially listless scrimmages (last year's final tally was 211-186).
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Markets grow tired of tariff changes U.S. stocks tumbled Thursday on tariff flip-flop fatigue.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Sleep deprivation comes with real costs Chronic sleep deprivation does more than leave people tired.
    Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Such languorous scenes led one of my friends, a seasoned war reporter, to remark that the film was short on action, and its pace is undeniably slower than the typical war documentary.
    Simon Shuster, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Steeped in the pleasantly lazy atmosphere of the title setting, the film is languorous, but not long.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Yet the club dropped the contest in spiritless fashion, 6-2.
    Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Adjective
  • This more logistical plot thread proves surprisingly languid for a such a nanoscopic feature, but Kang plays with its withdrawn qualities in fascinating ways.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Martin, ever elegant but rarely a wildly expressive actor, could perhaps do with showing a bit more emotional urgency here to sharpen the interplay with Tom, especially in this naturally languid seaside backdrop.
    Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Over time, this pattern can leave you emotionally exhausted and constantly walking on eggshells to prevent upsetting them.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Hackman was busy in the 1970s — his work also included the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and a French Connection sequel — and the regimen left him exhausted.
    Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Salesforce shares fell in extended trading Wednesday on mixed quarterly results and weak guidance.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
  • There aren’t enough affordable ones and the charging infrastructure is weak.
    Neil Winton, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Stay Here: Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho (a Relais & Châteaux property in the sleepy village of Melides) is a true visual feast.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Eco-friendly boutique shops, trendy coffee spots, and cafes selling poke bowls have also popped up throughout the sleepy coastal town.
    Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lackadaisical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lackadaisical. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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