listless

adjective

ˈlist-ləs How to pronounce listless (audio)
Definition of listlessnext
as in tired
lacking bodily energy or motivation when I had the flu, I felt listless and worn-out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective listless differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of listless are lackadaisical, languid, languorous, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," 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 can lackadaisical be used instead of listless?

While the synonyms lackadaisical and listless are close in meaning, lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

When might languid be a better fit than listless?

The words languid and listless are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

When is it sensible to use languorous instead of listless?

The words languorous and listless can be used in similar contexts, but languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When would spiritless be a good substitute for listless?

Although the words spiritless and listless have much in common, 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 listless The same listless play continued in the second half, and Washington’s defense had miscues that also were inexcusable against a weak opponent like the Cowboys. —Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 The off-white walls of this bygone home for the Warriors remain listless and barren. —Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025 Newcastle United were listless during their 3-1 defeat at Fulham on September 21 — and nobody appeared more out of sorts than Alexander Isak. —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025 On disk, the Bostonians play with maximum effervescence, but in the Adagio of the Concerto in G Cho’s attempt at otherworldly lyricism turns listless. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
  1. tired
  2. spiritless
  3. exhausted
  4. limp
  5. lackadaisical
  6. sleepy
  7. languid
  8. languorous
Adjective
  • Robbins was mostly Black, a place built by Black people who were tired of racial conflict in Chicago.
    — D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Was Michelle ever tired of using the vibrator all the time in the show?
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of tired
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
Definition of spiritless
Adjective
  • King Charles cant get involved in Prince Harrys security woes: author Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of ‘My Mother and I,’ explains why the monarch is too exhausted to deal with his younger son’s ongoing court battle.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Factors like dehydration, sugar crashes, caffeine withdrawal and tolerance, and sleep cycle disruption can actually leave you more exhausted after an energy drink.
    — Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • Having only been in the job a week, Tudor altered the formation slightly, shifting from Motta’s limp 4-2-3-1 system to a more dynamic 3-4-2-1. Yildiz was paired with Teun Koopmeiners to function behind Dusan Vlahovic, another who had fallen foul of Motta but was restored under Tudor.
    — Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Destined to be reduced to mincemeat one way or another, the neo-Mickey's limp, naked body slowly slides out from the machine.
    — Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of limp
Adjective
  • It’s been striking to watch Vancouver compete over the past week and to contrast it with some of the lackadaisical efforts that characterized so much of this campaign back in the fall.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The Super Bowl champion, who is more known for his lackadaisical style than being a stuffy analytical figure, was in a white button-down shirt in between Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears.
    — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
Definition of lackadaisical
Adjective
  • It is situated next to a sleepy mobile home park, some single-family home neighborhoods and the park.
    — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • This delicious sleep aid comes in five different flavors: mint chocolate, hot cocoa, cinnamon chai, sleepy berry and rose.
    — Bianca Salonga, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Enjoy a languid afternoon in the outdoor bathtub situated beneath a canopy of trees.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025
  • For the first time since 1986, St. John’s won both the Big East regular and conference tournament championships; the Red Storm packed Madison Square Garden all season and brought pizazz back to a New York City college basketball scene that felt languid for decades.
    — Sean Gregory, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of languid
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
Definition of languorous

Browse Nearby Words

listings
listless
listlessly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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