listless 1 of 2

listlessness

2 of 2

noun

1
as in boredom
physical or mental inertness following a couple of big mistakes early in the game, the team sank into an uncharacteristic listlessness and was never able to recover the lead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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 listless
Adjective
Mackey, raven-haired and listless in a bikini top and cigarette in hand, is camera-genic enough to make for an appealing heroine. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025 However, the first baseman went 1-for-4 in the game, which featured a listless lineup, giving him a .143 average and a .447 OPS over his last 24 contests. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025 Buehler allowed four runs over a listless four-inning performance, and the offense squandered several key scoring chances late. Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025 Later, in the comfort of their spectating room, the VIPs provide blithe yet listless commentary. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
Adjective
  • The tired belief that Republicans are better at handling the economy simply isn’t true.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
  • If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • For some, the stakes are high; for others, this is content to be consumed in a moment of boredom.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 July 2025
  • However, without enough structured activity, the breed can become restless and turn to destructive behaviors out of boredom.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Kindness may sound like a luxury in today’s high-takes, deliver-faster, do more with less, margin-tighter world—or worse, weakness.
    Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • History shows, however, that strengths can become weaknesses over time, and that is the most dangerous threat looming over these titans.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Aug. 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
  • 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
Noun
  • People experiencing more severe infections may also suffer high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rashes and blood in their urine.
    Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Foods high in the amino acid tryptophan (like milk, turkey, chicken, lobster, and certain types of nuts) can also increase lethargy, according to Dr. Ganjhu.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The exhaustion and boredom is certainly a factor, but these books just aren’t making a strong case for themselves anymore.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Between stress, shame, emotional disconnection, the current state of the world being challenging, and just plain exhaustion, desire can come and go.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Ortega’s hair extensions were removed and her eye makeup was toned-down, which gave way to her effortlessly exhausted countenance.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The show can be exceedingly gory — there’s a scene of exacting, exhausted revenge that comes at the hands of a rare woman warrior — but I was taken with some of the more theatrical details around these moments of violence, including the exchange of insults that precede the final battle.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Ozzy canceled shows, or performed in a stupor, and sometimes attacked his bandmates.
    Scott Simon, NPR, 26 July 2025
  • Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 28 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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