shiftlessness

noun

as in inertia
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities with the start of the warm weather, combating the students' shiftlessness was a constant ordeal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiftlessness
  1. inertia
  2. laziness
Noun
  • Local officials primarily blame budget concerns, along with political inertia, for the ongoing stalemate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • History shows commissions, like the successful base closing panel, require such mechanisms and strong presidential leadership to overcome political inertia.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of inertia
Noun
  • The reason has less to do with laziness than self-preservation.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Positive qualities—promptness, diligence, cheerfulness—sped up your ascent through the ranks; negative ones—laziness, dissipation, late mornings—slowed it down.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of laziness
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.

Browse Nearby Words

shiftlessly
shiftlessness
shifts
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Cite this Entry

“Shiftlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiftlessness. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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