lifeless

adjective

life·​less ˈlīf-ləs 

: having no life:

a

: dead

b

: inanimate

c

: lacking qualities expressive of life and vigor : insipid

d

: destitute of living beings

lifelessly adverb

lifelessness noun

Synonyms of lifeless

• dead
• fallen
• deceased

Examples of lifeless in a Sentence

a cold and lifeless landscape

The book's plot was lifeless and predictable.

Recent Examples on the Web

The culprit would have had to assault Dave in the recovery ice tub, pull his lifeless body out of the tub, dress him, clean up the crime scene, and then transport Dave’s corpse several blocks away without anyone spotting any of it. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025

That period of time spent with his lifeless body had a profound and lasting impact on me. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025

But playing against a lifeless Charlotte offense, the Green Wave had time to figure it out, capitalizing with three first-half touchdown drives — all ending with one-yard plunges to find pay-dirt. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 29 Nov. 2025

Today that amalgam helps churn lifeless rocks and sediments into nutrient-rich soil everywhere from polar deserts to tropical forests, says study lead author Bruno Becker-Kerber, a paleontologist at Harvard University. —Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lifeless

adjective

life·​less ˈlī-fləs 

: having no life

lifelessly adverb

lifelessness noun