Listless: meaning, definitions and examples

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listless

 

[ หˆlษชstlษ™s ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling or showing a lack of interest or energy

If you feel listless, you have no energy and no enthusiasm for anything. You just feel tired and lethargic, with no motivation to do anything.

Synonyms

apathetic, indifferent, lethargic, unmotivated.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
listless

Used when someone has no energy or enthusiasm and shows little interest in what is happening around them. It often describes physical or emotional fatigue.

  • After a long week at work, she felt listless and could barely get out of bed on Saturday
lethargic

Used to describe a state of sluggishness or lack of energy, often implying a physical cause like illness, tiredness, or lack of sleep.

  • After the flu, he felt so lethargic that even simple tasks seemed overwhelming
apathetic

Used when someone shows no interest or emotion towards a situation, event, or subject. This term often suggests a lack of concern or care.

  • He was completely apathetic about the outcome of the election and didn't even bother to vote
unmotivated

Used when someone lacks the drive or desire to do something. It suggests a lack of internal motivation or inspiration.

  • She felt unmotivated to study for the exam, despite knowing its importance
indifferent

Used when someone shows no particular interest or sympathy; they are neutral or unconcerned. It can be used in a more general sense than 'apathetic'.

  • She seemed indifferent to the praise and criticism alike, focusing solely on her work

Examples of usage

  • I've been feeling listless all day, I just can't seem to get motivated.
  • She lay on the couch, listless and bored, with no desire to do anything.
  • He seemed listless and disinterested during the meeting, not contributing anything.
Context #2 | Adjective

lacking vitality or energy

Listless can also describe something that lacks vitality or energy, like a listless performance or a listless economy.

Synonyms

dull, inactive, lackluster, lifeless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
listless

Use this when describing someone who has no energy or enthusiasm and appears uninterested in their surroundings.

  • She felt listless and could not focus on her work
  • His listless demeanor concerned his friends
lifeless

Use this when describing something or someone that has no life, energy, or vitality. It often has a stronger negative connotation.

  • The lifeless body was found in the alley
  • His speech was so uninteresting and lifeless
dull

Use this when describing something that is boring or lacks excitement. It can also describe a person who is not very bright or lively.

  • The lecture was so dull that many students fell asleep
  • The weather was dull and gray
lackluster

Use this when something is not shining or sparkling, either literally or metaphorically. Often used to describe performances, events, or efforts that are disappointing.

  • The team's lackluster performance resulted in a disappointing game
  • Her lackluster response failed to impress the judges
inactive

Use this when referring to someone or something that is not engaging in any activity or movement. This term can be used for both people and objects.

  • The volcano has been inactive for years
  • He became inactive after his retirement

Examples of usage

  • The team gave a listless performance, lacking energy and enthusiasm.
  • The market showed a listless response to the new product, with minimal interest.

Translations

Translations of the word "listless" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น apรกtico

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค‰เคฆเคพเคธเฅ€เคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช lustlos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lesu

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐะฟะฐั‚ะธั‡ะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ apatyczny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็„กๆฐ—ๅŠ›ใช (ใ‚€ใใ‚Šใ‚‡ใใช)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท apathique

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ apรกtico

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท isteksiz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฌด๊ธฐ๋ ฅํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูุงุชุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ apatickรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ apatickรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ— ็ฒพๆ‰“้‡‡็š„ (wรบ jฤซng dวŽ cวŽi de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ apatichen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ viljalaus

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะปั‹า›ัั‹ะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒแƒฌแƒงแƒ”แƒœแƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ laqeyd

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ apรกtico

Etymology

The word 'listless' originated from the Old English word 'lรฆt' meaning 'sluggish, slow, or lazy'. Over time, it evolved to 'listless' in Middle English, with the prefix 'list-' suggesting a lack of desire or inclination. The modern usage of 'listless' dates back to the 17th century, describing a state of lacking energy or enthusiasm.

See also: enlist, enlisting, glisten, listable, listed, listen, listers, listing, sublist.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,647, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.