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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idleness
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
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
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
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Japan’s old, stodgy government is initially too caught up in bureaucratic red tape and inertia to mount a response.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
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Her confinement was not the result of any criminal conduct, but of bureaucratic error compounded by institutional inertia.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Faced with the inaction of those in power against climate change, Mathias, his sister Éloïse and their friends form the Phoenix group.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
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America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.—
Gary W. Yohe,
The Conversation,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The sites of protest include small cities such as Abadan and the Kurdish-majority Malekshahi in the southwestern Ilam province, where economic grievances, unemployment, and state neglect are stark.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
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For neighborhood residents, the properties have become symbols of disinvestment and neglect, drawing growing calls for city government to intervene.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some part of Baudelaire’s lifelong free-spending and indolence seems to be a direct rebellion against the man, if not outright Freudian jealousy—Charles was an unabashed mama’s boy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Dec. 2025
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The Johnson Administration said the AFDC rewarded indolence, and condoned non-marital child bearing.—
Stephanie Land,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the dogs had pressure sores on all of its limbs, indicating inactivity, the detective wrote.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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How periods of inactivity affect cognitive performance For most of us, everyday life is characterized by a lack of movement.—
Desireé Oostland,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And does a particular level of disuse have to be reached for a word to be dropped into the lexical dustbin?—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
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The term fell largely into disuse with the Axis powers’ defeat in 1945.—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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This has led to extremely long hold times and a 95% call abandonment rate, according to the lawsuit.—
Jason Armesto,
AJC.com,
15 Jan. 2026
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In October 2022, county supervisors from Story and Shelby counties enacted local ordinances that established setback, permitting, emergency management and abandonment standards for hazardous materials pipelines within the counties.—
Cami Koons,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Friends and family suspect drugs, laziness or bad moral character.—
Kat McGowan,
NPR,
31 Dec. 2025
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Here are some tips to fight back against the flawed belief that rest is just laziness in disguise, during the holidays and beyond.—
Stacy Shaw,
Fortune,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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