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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idleness
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
Many professionals still associate rest with indulgence or idleness.
—Marian Evans, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Many professionals still associate rest with indulgence or idleness.
—Marian Evans, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
-
The company emphasizes 360° capture, low inertia, and direct-drive operation for low noise and minimal maintenance.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Gravitas, holding others steady without overwhelming their inertia.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
My worry is that inaction is not a strategy.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Actors speak and react to Rajab’s own desperate voice, while the film, set wholly within the Red Crescent’s beigely neutral offices, conjures a fraught ticking-clock atmosphere as precious minutes of inaction pass by.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Cash remains hopeful that the provision will be implemented later because cameras could both exonerate teachers who have been falsely accused of neglect and provide evidence against those teachers who do not follow state protocols.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
3 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
-
This makes hearing loss the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia, surpassing smoking, hypertension, or physical inactivity.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Some of the conditions listed as high risk for Covid-19 – such as physical inactivity – are loosely defined and may be left up to individual plans to interpret.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The 10-room Apostolic Palace apartment is undergoing extensive renovations, addressing years of water damage and disuse.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The 10-room suite, located on the palace’s third floor, has also undergone repairs for water infiltration and humidity after years of disuse.—
Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The author means this in the larger sense of abandonment—of a parent, of a friend, or even of a boss.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Public shelters and private rescues across Southern California are seeing an increase in large dog abandonment and owner requests for assistance.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The results not only call into question a potential laziness developing as a result of an overreliance on AI, but also the changing relationship between medical practitioners and a longstanding tradition of analog training.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share