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
Some part of Baudelaire’s lifelong free-spending and indolence seems to be a direct rebellion against the man, if not outright Freudian jealousy—Charles was an unabashed mama’s boy.
—
Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
The Johnson Administration said the AFDC rewarded indolence, and condoned non-marital child bearing.
—Stephanie Land, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Sennott and her costars speak with an irritatingly fake affect, are shallower than a puddle in the desert and prize selfishness, indolence and artifice.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 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
See All Example Sentences for indolence
Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
The Johnson Administration said the AFDC rewarded indolence, and condoned non-marital child bearing.
—Stephanie Land, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Sennott and her costars speak with an irritatingly fake affect, are shallower than a puddle in the desert and prize selfishness, indolence and artifice.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 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
See All Example Sentences for indolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indolence
Noun
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Larger tires increase rotational inertia and lengthen the lever arm between hub and road, forcing the braking system to work harder.—
Bryan Rogala,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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The only thing that could work against it at this point is inertia—and enthusiasm for Sinners, a smash hit that picked up the most Oscar nominations this year and seems to engender a similar amount of love in the room at every industry event.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Impulsivity can be seen as bad temper, disorganization as laziness, and difficulty maintaining attention as lack of interest.—
Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
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The top reason people resist showing themselves kindness, research has found, is the belief that self-compassion indicates laziness or self-indulgence.—
Nir Eyal,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indolence. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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