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
The condemnations run the gamut: accusations of antisemitism; accusations of outsider agitators; accusations charging the moral emptiness of the listless radical chic.
—
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
The golf comedy, created by Jason Keller and starring Owen Wilson as a disgraced pro who discovers a teenage prodigy, is listless and uninspired despite its likable cast.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2025
Jones shares the harrowing night his father lay listless on the floor in his home.
—Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Russian assassin Yelena Belova (Pugh) is depressed, listless and needing purpose, because taking jobs blowing up buildings just isn’t cutting it anymore.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
The golf comedy, created by Jason Keller and starring Owen Wilson as a disgraced pro who discovers a teenage prodigy, is listless and uninspired despite its likable cast.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2025
Jones shares the harrowing night his father lay listless on the floor in his home.
—Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Russian assassin Yelena Belova (Pugh) is depressed, listless and needing purpose, because taking jobs blowing up buildings just isn’t cutting it anymore.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
Adjective
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Mowing Lawns Homeowners are usually away on vacation or are probably too tired to maintain their yards.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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But, in Dick’s opinion, Charlie grew tired of baseball’s daily grind.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Senators looked spiritless days ago in their building Saturday night ahead of Game 4.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.—
Camille Berry,
Vogue,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After overseeing five issues in a nine-month tenure at the helm, an exhausted Johnson returned to American Medical News full time in 1990, and Chicago Times folded several months later.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
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The exhausted face of its owner, a tech executive ending another 14-hour workday, tells quite another.—
Pavi Theva,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Crystal Skull is easily Spielberg’s laziest, sloppiest work — even the action sequences seem phoned-in — and it’s filled with unforgivable howlers: Shia LaBeouf’s limp attempt at being a bad boy, Cate Blanchett’s hammy villain, the goddamn fridge scene.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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But in the resulting crash, as flames burst all around and the pilot’s bodies go limp, the camera in the cockpit finds Fielder, standing against the conflagration.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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With so much to do, and with a lackadaisical sense of urgency, each area is filled with gleeful distractions.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
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Now then, some angry pundits will excoriate you for being so lackadaisical.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The final picture is a solo shot of Ocean Rain, sleepy and sweetly tucked into a coral blanket embroidered with her name.—
Clea Haran,
Parents,
23 June 2025
-
By the end of that summer, the sleepy months had become prime box-office real estate.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Gout’s tall stature, languid running style and raw speed have drawn comparisons with legendary sprinter Usain Bolt and he is considered one of the fastest teenagers in the world.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
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Perhaps Goodman could withstand his sweatshop duties as a catcher while still producing the power its languid offense so desperately needs.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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In the summer, people here are too busy enjoying themselves—drinking on patios, reading languorous books, stretching weekends in Crystal Beach or Sherkston out over three, four, five days—to do much of any importance.—
Aidan Ryan
June 4,
Literary Hub,
4 June 2025
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Warfare tells the harrowing story of their rescue in real time—even though much of this movie is constructed from long, languorous takes, the film moves forward in tense fits and starts.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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