1
as in inertia
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities
the brothers' innate idleness meant that neither did much, either inside or outside their ramshackle cabin
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2
as in inaction
lack of action or activity
a day spent in idleness is nice, but a month of doing nothing is boring!
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3
as in neglect
lack of use
the idleness of the machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
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For the past year, the Brooklyn Center for Theater Research—a theatrical collective with downtown cool—has been immersed in an evolving production of Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov’s timeless study of regret, inertia and longing.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025 -
In her daily life, nothing that was felt could be acted upon; what could be acted upon followed routines of inertia or necessity.—
Anelise Chen,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The unknown will always feel risky, but the bigger risk is inaction.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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The prolonged inaction and uncertainty surrounding this situation have significant implications for the broader UC San Diego community.—
Ellia M Torkian,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Harris, a Biden appointee, will serve until her term expires in 2028 unless removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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In January, White pled guilty to two counts of child neglect after initially pleading not guilty to the charges.—
Laura Barcella,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The government insisted that the corn be sold rather than given away (free food would merely reinforce Irish indolence), and those who received it had little idea at first how to cook it.—
Fintan O'Toole,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
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The book is thematically framed by the two extremes of contemporary London: the charmed experiences of the elite, leisured classes in the West End and the extreme poverty and indolence of the East End.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The rescission power fell into disuse under Bill Clinton.—
The Editors,
National Review,
10 Mar. 2025
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But decades of disuse did not entirely dissipate their power.—
Nick Frisch,
Foreign Affairs,
17 May 2016
Noun
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Studies show that children exposed to abuse or high-conflict environments often develop a fear of abandonment and rejection, which can lead to complex trauma or borderline personality disorder.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
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Memoir My Abyss Patrick Cottrell Obsession will always be an attractive fresh hell for a person like me, a product of abandonment with a longing for attachment.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
5 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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