as in inertia
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities
a general feeling of indolence usually overtakes them during summer vacation
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Recent Examples of indolence
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
The idea of Irish indolence fused with a quasi-religious faith in the laws of the market to shape the British response to the famine.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
African clergy are distinctly firmer than those in the West, perhaps a consequence of the social turmoil on their continent compared to the indolence of Europe and North America.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
After indulging Sofia’s indolence for the better part of its running time, the movie suddenly supports her newfound sense of independence.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indolence
Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
The idea of Irish indolence fused with a quasi-religious faith in the laws of the market to shape the British response to the famine.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
African clergy are distinctly firmer than those in the West, perhaps a consequence of the social turmoil on their continent compared to the indolence of Europe and North America.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
After indulging Sofia’s indolence for the better part of its running time, the movie suddenly supports her newfound sense of independence.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indolence
Noun
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More modern power resources, like wind, solar, and batteries, don't involve inertia, because they are digitally controlled.—
Julia Simon,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
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The inertia continues despite economic and regulatory headwinds across the world that threaten to impact sales and product strategies.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What started as the follow-up to D’Angelo’s 1995 platinum debut, Brown Sugar (written and recorded entirely by D’Angelo in his mother’s house in Richmond, Virginia), became five years of study at Soul University, complete with classes, pranks, gossip and equal amounts of discipline and laziness.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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To Gregg, taking extra bathroom trips or using the far printer aren’t simply a matter of laziness.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indolence. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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