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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The company emphasizes 360° capture, low inertia, and direct-drive operation for low noise and minimal maintenance.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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Gravitas, holding others steady without overwhelming their inertia.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
“Indolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indolence. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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