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listless

/ˈlɪstləs/adjective

Without energy or interest in anything.

Example sentences

  • “The heat made the children listless, and they refused to play outside.”
  • “After weeks of rain, the players looked tired and listless at practice.”

The 'list' here is an old word for desire, so listless literally means without wanting. It has nothing to do with lists you write.

Featured as word of the day on September 1, 2026.

Synonyms for listless

Antonyms

Often confused with listless

listless vs languid
languid (adjective): Pleasantly slow and relaxed, without much energy.

Find it in: Advanced English words.

Related words