laziness 1 of 3

Definition of lazinessnext

lazy

2 of 3

adjective

lazy

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lazy distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words indolent and slothful are common synonyms of lazy. While all three words mean "not easily aroused to activity," lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble.

take-out foods for lazy cooks

When is it sensible to use indolent instead of lazy?

Although the words indolent and lazy have much in common, indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity.

the heat made us indolent

When might slothful be a better fit than lazy?

While in some cases nearly identical to lazy, slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for.

fired for being slothful about filling orders

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of laziness
Noun
The unconventional approach drew immediate attention across social media, where fans debated whether the artistic choice was a clever homage, or simple laziness. Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026 That’s not only because judges are fining more lawyers for their laziness, but because the publicity about these embarrassments has been inescapable. Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
For solo travelers, there's nothing like a serene soak in the natural thermal waters found on the historic Bathhouse Row, followed by a refreshing drink of spring water and a lazy hike through the dense woods at Hot Springs National Park. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026 But decadents only break taboos in a bloodless, symbolic way—they’re too lazy and refined for murder. Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for laziness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laziness
Noun
  • My field has spent a decade pointing to Schedule I, scarce funding, and regulatory inertia as the reasons our progress has been so slow, and those complaints are now being taken seriously at the highest levels of government.
    Peter S. Hendricks, STAT, 6 May 2026
  • The result is a budget that reflects institutional inertia more than the needs of Angelenos.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • Now, more than half of the trucks used to fill potholes sit idle every day because of our staffing shortage.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • Havana's famous fleet of classic cars now also sit idle.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 May 2026
Adjective
  • Harden believed a number of his turnovers were careless.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 6 May 2026
  • Stewart’s successor, Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat, suspended Blogoslawski in February amid allegations of improprieties, including the careless handling of cash and the backdating of tax payments to avoid interest penalties.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On March 17, a video obtained by TMZ showed LaBeouf in a hotel lobby in Rome, Italy, wearing only his underwear and trying to bum a light for a cigarette.
    Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Spring cleaning bumming you out?
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Tuesday evening’s event didn’t devolve into the chaos of a cacophonous debate last week but was far livelier than a relatively sleepy one last month.
    Ben Paviour May 6, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
  • The president endorsed their challengers and his allies spent millions of dollars in what are normally sleepy state legislative races.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • Above a certain socioeconomic threshold, not spending an extra $1,000 a year or more in the hopes of doing so could seem neglectful.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
  • Sid lives in the town of Matakana with her single, sometimes-neglectful alcoholic father Leo (Noah Taylor), who wanted to be a painter but now mows the lawns of rich neighbors and visiting Auckland rich boys occupying the beachfront mansions nearby in Omaha.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of setting up a spot on the sand, beachgoers typically pitch their chairs in the shallow clear blue water and laze the day away.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
  • But its proximity to the Arenal Volcano also means plenty of mineral-rich hot springs to laze around in.
    Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Furthermore, there is a risk of overdiagnosis, where the test detects a slow-growing, indolent cancer that would never have caused harm in a person’s lifetime, leading to unnecessary treatments, side effects and psychological burden.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Every 4:3 shot is framed to maximize the social verticality of the club, and every sequence is edited to evoke the indolent energy of a hot car on a hot summer’s day.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Laziness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laziness. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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