as in tired
lacking bodily energy or motivation
when I had the flu, I felt listless and worn-out
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Recent Examples of listless
The latest defeat - a listless performance against Syracuse at home - was preceded by a midweek rant by Dabo Swinney With his team out of the ACC title race before the end of September, Swinney's prediction of a possible 16-0 season seems like a long time ago.
—
Erick Smith, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another reason to like the Niners is the revenge factor after their listless 47-24 loss to Arizona in Week 18 last January.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The air was damp and listless and the heat was something to wade through, thick as molasses.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Day 4 Observations Utah blasted a listless Orlando team to open the final day of the season.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Erick Smith, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another reason to like the Niners is the revenge factor after their listless 47-24 loss to Arizona in Week 18 last January.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The air was damp and listless and the heat was something to wade through, thick as molasses.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Day 4 Observations Utah blasted a listless Orlando team to open the final day of the season.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
Adjective
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Stein conducted experiments under James’s supervision, but quickly tired of studying her subjects’ responses and preferred talking with them and tracking their characters.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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The Senators looked spiritless days ago in their building Saturday night ahead of Game 4.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Several hours — and what was probably pounds of foundation — later, an exhausted Diaz had to get back to the New Orleans airport to catch his flight while the rest of the team was at the stadium.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also warned that exhausted, stressed and overworked controllers, many of whom have reported needing to get second jobs to cover bills while their paychecks are paused, could increase risks of issues arising at airports, and more have been calling in sick.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After arriving at the residential property, a woman, who was not publicly identified, rushed toward him while carrying the limp baby in her arms.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Chip had marked the birds down and brought them to me, warm, soft, and limp, one at a time.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a sanguine sweetness to the proceedings, and a lackadaisical approach to dry joke delivery that sort of resembles Wes Anderson’s stop-motion work like The Fantastic Mr. Fox (and to a lesser degree his live-action movies).—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
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However the United Farmworkers Union has contended that staff shortages and lackadaisical management prevent the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, from effectively enforcing those rules, leading to workers’ debilitating conditions and even death.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, then, are 8 financial fixes for anyone with an hour to spare on a sleepy Sunday morning.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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For months, New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race was considered sleepy political theater—the kind expected to reaffirm the state’s blue credentials before national operatives move on.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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One-sided, slightly tipping top-handle bags emerged as well as mesh and net bags, also supporting the more languid fluid rtw looks.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The album took soul and gospel cues from his first record and extended them into languorous jams.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
14 Oct. 2025
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As the days grow shorter and darker, and temperatures drop, there’s nothing quite like knowing there’s a warm, welcoming bed awaiting you at home to usher in a cozy night’s sleep, and long, languorous mornings when time allows.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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