Definition of LISTLESSNESS

Choose the Right Synonym for listless

languid, languorous, lackadaisical, listless, spiritless mean lacking energy or enthusiasm. languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness. was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity. languorous cats lying in the sun lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts. lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study 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 spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life. a spiritless recital of the poem

Examples of listless in a Sentence

He became listless, answered in monosyllables, gurgled, drank a great deal of whisky, and looked with hateful eyes at everyone. — Isaiah Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 12 Apr. 1987 She looked up and saw everyone starting his work. She took out a piece of paper, feeling listless and bored as she did. — Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy, 1964 His blue eyes had lost their colour; they had a listless droop; and his mouth, losing the fulness of youth, was weak and pale. — W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915 Her pretty face was wan and listless, her hair uncurled—some locks hanging lankly down, and some carelessly twisted round her head. — Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847 The heat made everyone tired and listless. The party was a listless affair.

Recent Examples on the Web

Running, yoga, talk therapy, and writing all left me listless and frustrated. — Christine Yu, SELF, "Wading in a Cranberry Bog Was the Therapeutic Experience I Didn’t Know I Needed," 26 Oct. 2018 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the midst of identifying candidates for 28 ambassadorships and 30 other top vacant positions in hopes of re-energizing a State Department that was left listless under his predecessor, Rex W. Tillerson. — Gardiner Harris, New York Times, "A Growing List of U.S. Diplomats Acting Undiplomatically," 6 June 2018 Suddenly, players who looked listless last season are tracking back on defense again, led by their new midfield Rottweiler—Lucas Torreira. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, "Arsenal Is Stunning the Premier League by...Not Being Awful," 5 Nov. 2018 But the attempt never goes beyond the most surface-level homage, resulting in something herky-jerky and listless, incapable of doing anything interesting with its eye-catching premise. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "The Happytime Murders turns raunchy puppet comedy into inexplicably boring dreck," 23 Aug. 2018 The ladies of Book Club are all thriving successes on paper who have become unmoored, or at least a little listless, in their personal lives. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Book Club Is a Delightful, White Wine–Drenched Romp," 16 May 2018 Looking mostly listless in a 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh at PNC Park, the Brewers fell to 1-4 on this trip that began with three games in Miami, including two extra-inning defeats. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Pirates 7, Brewers 3: With four losses in five games on trip, Brewers appear out of steam," 13 July 2018 The vandals, who oftentimes are listless area teenagers. — Alison Kuznitz, courant.com, "Curbing Crime In Thompsonville: Civilians, Officials To Meet On Potential Block Watch," 9 July 2018 The final act is a listless shamble toward vague transcendence, with Parsifal bathed in light as the knights — sagging flesh safely covered — slowly spin in place, a Baselitz starburst looming over everything. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Review: A Conductor Sets Munich’s Ashen ‘Parsifal’ Aflame," 1 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'listless.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.