as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
feeling particularly lackadaisical in the summer heat, they lazily tossed a ball back and forth
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Recent Examples of lackadaisical
With Minnesota leading by four and 1 minute, 10 seconds to play, Edwards got lackadaisical in his off-ball defense while guarding Chicago’s most potent scorer, Coby White.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
But this is just a step too far against an Oregon team that won't be lackadaisical.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
George Pickens could be under spotlight again After a week of noise that saw Cowboys receiver George Pickens draw a lot of criticism for his lackadaisical performance against the Detroit Lions, his numbers don’t look much better coming out of Sunday night’s second consecutive loss.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Dec. 2025
From the Alcaraz perspective, this was yet another warning to the chasing pack that even an elite player playing to their absolute best level is still not enough, as well as a rejoinder to his at-times lackadaisical end-of-season performances in recent years.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lackadaisical
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
But this is just a step too far against an Oregon team that won't be lackadaisical.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
George Pickens could be under spotlight again After a week of noise that saw Cowboys receiver George Pickens draw a lot of criticism for his lackadaisical performance against the Detroit Lions, his numbers don’t look much better coming out of Sunday night’s second consecutive loss.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Dec. 2025
From the Alcaraz perspective, this was yet another warning to the chasing pack that even an elite player playing to their absolute best level is still not enough, as well as a rejoinder to his at-times lackadaisical end-of-season performances in recent years.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lackadaisical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lackadaisical
Adjective
-
Spurs are hapless, listless, shapeless, themeless, hopeless.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Tuesday night was one of those situations as the Blackhawks were listless for the better part of three quarters.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nanos must also be tired of talking, though that one is on him.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Aiona has grown tired of spending his retirement telling park-goers to stop feeding the chickens.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wicker, rattan, raffia, and marble make comfortable bedfellows, and all rooms have terraces with huge daybeds for languorous post-pilates reading sessions in the sun.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The album took soul and gospel cues from his first record and extended them into languorous jams.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Chiefs turned that spiritless first half into a 28-7 blowout Monday night against the Commanders, opening the second half with touchdown drives of 80, 75 and 94 yards.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
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From spiritless spirits to refusing to open up a bar tab, members of Generation Z are continuing to challenge alcohol traditions.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Couple his extroverted on-pitch personality and his, in theory, imposing 6ft 4in (195cm) frame that can be equally languid and driving in style, Onana should have all the characteristics to play among the elite.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Through heightened control of imagery and mood, attention to composition and texture and sound, Manuel turns this simple, languid setting into something far more sinister without ever betraying the beauty of what’s onscreen.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But on the day the deal closed last week, Esnard sounded less jubilant and more exhausted.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Marc Maron, who helmed his engaging and transgressive interview show WTF for 13 years, is a Jersey Boy who sounds plaintive and exhausted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bangladesh’s woes have not improved much since Hasina’s ouster, with high inflation and a weak taka currency combining to erode real incomes for ordinary households.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Pinterest posted disappointing fourth-quarter results and gave weak guidance for first-quarter sales.—
Liz Napolitano,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One of those efforts, the super PAC Leading the Future, has already raised $125 million from sources including the backers of Palantir and OpenAI for the midterms — huge sums of money for races that were once often sleepy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Sweden has been sleepy and out to lunch.—
Chris Pronger,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lackadaisical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lackadaisical. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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