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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of listlessness
The disease in deer is often characterized by progressive weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooping ears, excessive drooling or thirst and a lack of fear of humans.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
But while it’s bound to be emotional, this transition doesn’t have to be a time of listlessness and sadness.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
But while it’s bound to be emotional, this transition doesn’t have to be a time of listlessness and sadness.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listlessness
Noun
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More importantly, interactions with sycophantic chatbots impart all the wrong habits for navigating the world of human relationships, where friction, disagreement, boredom and different opinions than your own are prevalent.—
Cody Turner,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
-
Try to avoid late-night snacking out of habit, boredom, or stress.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some analysts have raised alarms about how weakness in a key node of the web, like OpenAI, could set off a chain reaction that could threaten the entire AI ecosystem.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to his senior year, Maloney worked extremely hard to correct his weakness.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Deal lethargy kills that electricity slowly, the way a slow leak flattens a tire.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
Early signs of canine parvovirus in dogs include lethargy, lack of appetite and fever, PetMD said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s a deeper exhaustion here that can’t be ignored.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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It was determined Megan had suffered from extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction, and low metabolic levels.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their apps seem clearly designed, much like TikTok and Candy Crush, to keep users scrolling and tapping in a hypnotic stupor.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Patrons — many just as panicked and some in a drunken stupor — ran by her.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Symptoms start one to eight weeks after exposure and initially can include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, according to the CDC.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Snell has been on the IL since late March with left shoulder fatigue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Listlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listlessness. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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