as in tired
lacking bodily energy or motivation
when I had the flu, I felt listless and worn-out
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of listless
Earlier in the season, Pope apologized to the fan base after a listless 88-69 loss to Virginia in the home opener.
—
Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
The Moment is a comedy with almost no effective jokes, a listless sense of pacing, and cinematography that is stylized but really not that stylish.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Children have become listless and suffered blotchy rashes, coughing and coughing spasms, dehydration and secondary infections including pneumonias.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 20 Feb. 2026
In an interview with NBC News last week, the family described days that blurred together as the children grew listless, with little to do and few familiar comforts.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for listless
Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
The Moment is a comedy with almost no effective jokes, a listless sense of pacing, and cinematography that is stylized but really not that stylish.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Children have become listless and suffered blotchy rashes, coughing and coughing spasms, dehydration and secondary infections including pneumonias.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 20 Feb. 2026
In an interview with NBC News last week, the family described days that blurred together as the children grew listless, with little to do and few familiar comforts.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
Adjective
-
They have been seen directing snaking security lines and passing out water bottles to tired travelers.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Step in when someone’s tired or needs a break.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
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
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Families are still overwhelmed and caregivers are still exhausted, and far too many conversations are still happening too late.—
Alex Rizo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
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Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?—
Agnieszka Szpila,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In He Bled Neon, the ersatz A24-ish motions are gone through and that’s about it, a limp endeavor to do something with a soggy, banal script.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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Crafted into undone bends, the style disguises flyaways and limp ends.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And there was nothing lackadaisical about any of those things.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Whitt was demanding lackadaisical players perform up-downs when Sumrall’s booming voice rang out.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The film is weirdly slow and sleepy, and at least 20 minutes too long.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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These sleepy puppies are right there with you—expert-level napping, zero meetings required.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a weird disconnect between the show’s pleasantly languid visual feel and its characters’ emotions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
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The oversized teddy bear of a man with the languid baritone, who speaks with the eloquence of a poet, the encouragement of a coach, and the comfort of a minister, came up in the legendary Night Hawk in the 1970s.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As at Ha’s Snack Bar, the food is an elegant wallop of neon flavors, foregrounding the punctilious greenness of Vietnamese herbs and the languorous funk of organ meats and offcuts, but now there’s room to breathe, to relax a little, to take it all in, to linger.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
15 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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