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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idle
Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The Rangers were idle and will begin a three-game road series against the New York Mets on Friday night.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
While tour buses idle outside Marina Bay Sands, Haw Par Villa offers a reflective experience that shows a different side of Singapore.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 14 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
See All Example Sentences for idle
Adjective
The expectation is that the senior will be fully healthy following LSU’s idle week.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The Rangers were idle and will begin a three-game road series against the New York Mets on Friday night.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
The majority of the market is idling after a nice run to record highs and ahead of a Fed decision, while some idiosyncratic flows goose the mega-tech stocks and the S & P 500 with them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
While tour buses idle outside Marina Bay Sands, Haw Par Villa offers a reflective experience that shows a different side of Singapore.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for idle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idle
Adjective
-
Venezuela has reignited a long-dormant offshore border dispute since the oil discoveries.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Tom Cillo quit his high-school team in the 1980s after getting involved in drugs, then worked 33 years for a city streets and parks department before deciding to chase a long-dormant dream.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The perfect dish for potlucks, leftovers, and lazy nights.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Reviewers rave about how much the lazy Susans help with pantry organization.—
Lauren Taylor,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s what was bumming him out.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
To be this close over and over is really bumming me out.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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
-
Barr blamed Kimmel's inaction on her behalf for his current circumstances.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Their lawsuit, filed in June, alleges that WellQuest of Elk Grove is liable for their inaction.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Igou is also facing a felony count of neglect of a dependent because her eldest child was allegedly not enrolled in school, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Four of the counts are felonies and carry an intensifier for neglect of a child under 6 years old.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Anderson has been responsible for some of the greatest ones of the 21st century, and even his off titles are pretty good, which makes ranking his work a particular challenge.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
But even in his off hours, Boose is still working.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During an April cruise on MSC World America, passengers lounged in brown and cream chairs in the Yacht Club's Top Sail Lounge while sunlight poured in through floor-to-ceiling windows.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
-
This newly designed, two-story space will celebrate classic California Craftsman design and will be a place for lounging with a good book, relaxing with a glass of wine or admiring the hotel’s Great Hall lobby below.—
Jessica Peralta,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idle. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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