1
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation the company's competitors have not been idle in developing rival products
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lazy
not easily aroused to action or work
an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idle
Made By History, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
By adjusting power consumption dynamically, the tool could help reduce unnecessary background activity and extend battery life—especially during idle periods or when apps are not in active use.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Hasina Jeelani, Vogue, 12 May 2025
The one-time shortstop enjoyed career peaks with 33 home runs and 109 runs batted in as recently as 2023 but has battled injuries since, with a broken toe and a broken wrist idling him for big chunks of time.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for idle
Adjective
The decline of the whaling industry left the city in panic: shops were empty, wharves were idle, and the number of residents on poor relief nearly doubled.
— Made By History, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
By adjusting power consumption dynamically, the tool could help reduce unnecessary background activity and extend battery life—especially during idle periods or when apps are not in active use.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
Instead, my family spent time idling in a hammock under a dense canopy of trees, napping in the dappled sunshine.
—Hasina Jeelani, Vogue, 12 May 2025
The one-time shortstop enjoyed career peaks with 33 home runs and 109 runs batted in as recently as 2023 but has battled injuries since, with a broken toe and a broken wrist idling him for big chunks of time.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for idle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idle
Adjective
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Summer heat and dry conditions slow down turfgrass growth; drought-tolerant grass turns dormant, a natural protective response to adverse conditions.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2025
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While most hosts of the parasite can control the initial infection with few if any symptoms, Toxoplasma remains in the body for life as dormant cysts in brain, heart and muscle tissue.—
Bill Sullivan,
The Conversation,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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RuPaul wants a Drag Superstar, not an ordinary girl who gets lazy and gets bored.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Some argued that this is standard gentle parenting, while others believed that parents are too lazy to follow through with demands.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Everyone — from those actually paying to the ones still bumming a log-in — wants to know how Netflix and other streaming services’ crackdowns on password sharing affect them.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 May 2025
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Fans who hoped to see them on the red carpet at last week’s Met Gala were bummed.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
Noun
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For all of India’s strides, bureaucratic inertia and corruption often stifle innovation and enterprise.—
Robert C. Wolcott,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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The power of inertia and fear of a high-risk nominee kept Democrats from confronting Biden far more than any scheme by his family or palace guard.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Accusations of inaction During the trial, advocacy groups have accused health authorities of inaction after they were notified as soon as 2005 of Le Scouarnec’s conviction for possessing child pornography pictures.—
Nicolas Vaux-Montagny,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The human cost of inaction Victims of these scams often lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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In 2014, she was legally removed from her mother’s custody following reports of neglect.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
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The resulting breakdown is one of the series' most painful moments, with Pacey begging for answers to a lifetime of neglect.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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For those who aren’t seeking beach time, the island also was praised for offering historic sites, golf courses and other off-shore activities.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
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After an off day Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks come to GABP for three games.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Verb
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The corridor was branded as the 16th Street Mall and designed to compete with suburban development, a place to shop, dine, lounge around or walk to work.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
29 May 2025
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The boat staff is congenial and knowledgeable, so don’t hesitate to ask it about island history or to take a picture of you and your crew lounging on the deck.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idle. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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