Synonyms of idleness

idleness

noun

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

• inertia
• indolence
• laziness
• sloth
• shiftlessness
• lethargy
• supineness
• languor
• apathy
• loafing
• lassitude
• sluggishness
• listlessness
• lolling
• lounging
• dallying
• goldbricking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• industry
• industriousness
• drive
• ambition
• enterprise
• initiative
• hustle
• diligence
• assiduity
• perseverance
• go
• energy
• vigor
• vitality
• vivacity
• exuberance
• liveliness
• animation
• briskness
• assiduousness
• robustness
• sprightliness
• vibrancy
• vim
• pep
• lustiness
• jazziness
• peppiness

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

• inertia
• inaction
• inactivity
• inertness
• laziness
• indolence
• sleepiness
• quiescence
• nonaction
• lethargy
• dormancy
• loafing
• sloth
• lounging
• languor
• shiftlessness
• lassitude
• sluggishness
• listlessness
• lolling
• dallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• activity
• action
• activeness
• vivacity
• exuberance
• liveliness
• employment
• briskness
• robustness
• occupation
• sprightliness
• industry
• vibrancy
• diligence
• industriousness
• assiduity
• business
• animateness
• jazziness
• peppiness
• assiduousness

3

as in neglect

lack of use

the idleness of the machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust

Synonyms & Similar Words

• neglect
• inactivity
• disuse
• abandonment
• desuetude
• desertion
• abeyance
• latency
• quiescence
• dormancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• use

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of idleness

Meanwhile, in England and the United States and across continental Europe, statutes that punished idleness sharpened into vagrancy laws that gave police discretionary power to identify when a form of nonaction constituted criminal disorder. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

This isn't due to idleness, but often because workers finish tasks early, sometimes hours before the workday ends, especially with AI boosting efficiency. — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Spending healthy years in idleness isn’t good for you. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2026

DeJean, who recorded the game-changing pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, couldn’t comprehend postseason idleness. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

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