LISTLESSLY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

listlessly

adverb

Definition of listlessly

as in wearily

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 listlessly Lady Holiday listlessly turns the pages, barely glancing at Miss Piggy in various outfits. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 Every once in a while a crow calls, but there’s not much structure to it, with the sounds listlessly bouncing off the walls imposed by the five-minute runtimes instead of cohering into a rhythm. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026 There’s no way to stop parents from allowing their children to stare listlessly at a screen, but state lawmakers, school board members, administrators and teachers can impact what goes on during the school day. — Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 24 June 2026 The Mets offense once again started listlessly, looking late for a game that started three hours earlier than scheduled because of incoming inclement weather. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 5 May 2026 My daughter enters the kitchen and stands there listlessly. — Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 She is shown floating listlessly through space until her superpowers finally kick in. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listlessly

Adverb

Some of the rumors were true, most weren’t, but there was no line across which any tale was too tall to make our bodies hurt a little more, to make our hearts move a little more wearily.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Every Sunday, Jesse Minter strode wearily onto a red-eye flight at Los Angeles International Airport for a trip back to Baltimore, where the work week awaited.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 12 May 2026

Definition of wearily

Adverb

Demis Hassabis has made the same point more bluntly, cautioning that using AI lazily can actually make people worse at critical thinking.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The Roamer rolled lazily in the light swell that was coming in from the open lake, and our rod tips dipped and rose, but nobody got a strike.

— JAMES D. OXLEY, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of lazily

Adverb

Elsewhere, stoles stole the show, particular those draped languidly over the shoulder or fashioned as cummerbunds.

— Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
On a windy afternoon, a family packs a beach bag, perhaps for the last time, and languidly walks towards the coast.

— Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of languidly

Adverb

And then Ed Sheeran (played by Annabel Marlow) casually walks in to weigh in on the situation.

— Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2026
Still, the current team does have a rare shot at shaping an orchestra that is not only reliably exciting and frequently profound but also casually bold and genuinely fun — making for a crucial presence in the city as well as at Geffen Hall.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of casually

Adverb

The fish looks straight at me, flopping sluggishly from side to side.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Hayes’ 3-pointer from the midcourt logo to end the first quarter keyed the Valkyries’ 24-9 second-quarter surge and enlivened a Golden State group that had started the game sluggishly.

— Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of sluggishly

Adverb

The show’s interests are theoretically in a nuclear family gradually coming back together, though even that theme is halfheartedly pursued.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 16 July 2026
At least four officers stood by during the assaults, while two others halfheartedly attempted to break them up.

— Jason Henry, Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of halfheartedly

Browse Nearby Words

listless

listlessly

listlessness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Listlessly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listlessly. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of listlessly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tactile

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes