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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inaction
lack of action or activity
a day spent in idleness is nice, but a month of doing nothing is boring!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in neglect
lack of use
the idleness of the machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idleness
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
All of which could lead to so much work that a man like Wyatt Harper might never have another day of idleness again.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
All of which could lead to so much work that a man like Wyatt Harper might never have another day of idleness again.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
-
This might look like prolonged dependence on parents for housing and finances, difficulty committing to work or education, avoidance of romantic or social commitments or a general inertia around planning for the future.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Driven by the balance between gravity and inertia, the weight shifts automatically as vibrations change.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Sheriff Tony later condemned his deputies’ failures, including their inaction on removing Nathan’s firearms or seeking a court order under Florida’s red flag law, passed after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Concerns about interest rates, global events, or potential downturns can lead to overly cautious choices—or even inaction.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Common causes include legacy storage, a lack of metadata and cost‑driven neglect.—
Daniel Fallmann,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Now, as a photojournalist working with the Kansas City Defender and as the creator of the upcoming podcast Fountain City Files, Harrison focuses on stories involving missing Black women, systemic failures in law enforcement and community neglect.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The world does seem full of unhappiness and tragedy, much of it human-caused, either through outright cruelty or through the indolence of our illusions.—
Philip Metres
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
-
Their waiter’s indolence meant a long wait even for menus, yet neither of them let drop a word of complaint.—
Jim Shepard,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
Talreja highlights that stress can indirectly worsen cardiovascular health by encouraging unhealthy habits—like overeating, inactivity, and alcohol use—so maintaining routine checkups is crucial.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Modern triggers such as dietary excess, psychological stress, environmental pollutants, and physical inactivity can sustain immune activation, thereby contributing to the chronic inflammation associated with aging and disease.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Dissolution Of Neural Manifolds Our minds work like muscles, growing stronger through resistance and weaker through disuse.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Jemez Historical Site near Jemez Hot Springs is an even older development, where visitors can see ruins of a pueblo that dates back to the 16th century, alongside the 17th century Spanish mission that later developed and fell into disuse on the same site.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They are believed to have entered the United States in the 1500s, where, over centuries, domestic stock eventually became wild due to escape and abandonment.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The researchers found that individuals with higher attachment anxiety, that is people who crave closeness but fear abandonment, reported stronger parasocial relationships with their favorite TV characters.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In Annabelle’s defense, her laziness is in line with the rest of the film franchise, which almost always involves demons using preexisting hauntings to torment families.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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Kahneman’s work in Thinking, Fast and Slow highlights cognitive laziness, our tendency to seek quick answers and shortcuts that can come at the expense of deeper insight.—
Sarat Chakravarthi,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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