1
as in boredom
physical or mental inertness
following a couple of big mistakes early in the game, the team sank into an uncharacteristic listlessness and was never able to recover the lead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restlessness
the state of being bored
we searched desperately for something to jar us out of our listlessness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
general listlessness is often a side effect of chemotherapy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of listlessness
These signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, listlessness or clinginess and loss of interest in physical play.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
And the locker room could feel the listlessness heading into the game.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
After a year of listlessness, the Democrats experienced their first major electoral string of victories on Tuesday, sweeping the Republicans in every major race.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
In early Christian thinking, its connotations of languor and listlessness, within the spirit no less than the body, lent it the status of a sin—a turning aside from God for the sake of earthly sorrow.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
In the second half, veteran center Garrett Bradbury sensed the Patriots offense stalling from its own listlessness.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
And the locker room could feel the listlessness heading into the game.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
After a year of listlessness, the Democrats experienced their first major electoral string of victories on Tuesday, sweeping the Republicans in every major race.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
In early Christian thinking, its connotations of languor and listlessness, within the spirit no less than the body, lent it the status of a sin—a turning aside from God for the sake of earthly sorrow.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
In the second half, veteran center Garrett Bradbury sensed the Patriots offense stalling from its own listlessness.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listlessness
Noun
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Soon enough, once a candidate has entered the race, boredom sets in and the speculation and desire for someone fresh and different starts anew.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The strengths and weaknesses are always shown in a game like this.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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According to the Mayo Clinic, CMS is caused by a gene change that results in muscle weakness, which worsens with physical activity.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The notice explains that dogs who ingest plastic may exhibit symptoms including vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, or stomach discomfort.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
6 Dec. 2025
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Common symptoms of an EHV respiratory disease can include fever, coughing, nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, anorexia, conjunctivitis and lower limb swelling, according to the AAEP.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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There are no speakers in the songs of MJ Lenderman other than MJ Lenderman, whose diffidence and exhaustion are in all-too-perfect lockstep with the psychic frustrations of his listeners.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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This round of protests feels different from prior ones because of a sense of frustration and exhaustion among people in Iran, said Dina Esfandiary, Middle East lead for Bloomberg Economics.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Spotlight The Welcome Demise of Climate Change Catastrophism Is the American Left finally waking up from its decades-long climate catastrophism stupor?—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
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Binging the best Thanksgiving episodes in a post-meal stupor is one way to cope with a less-than-lovely holiday.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But Vanderbilt, as attention, pressure and fatigue rise on a pursuit no one outside its camp expected, is essentially two teams with two games left in the 2025 regular season.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Despite widespread fatigue over tipping prompts, Americans still tend to be generous when dining out at restaurants.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Listlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listlessness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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