1
as in inertia
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities
the brothers' innate idleness meant that neither did much, either inside or outside their ramshackle cabin
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inaction
lack of action or activity
a day spent in idleness is nice, but a month of doing nothing is boring!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in neglect
lack of use
the idleness of the machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idleness
Spending healthy years in idleness isn’t good for you.
—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
DeJean, who recorded the game-changing pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, couldn’t comprehend postseason idleness.
—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
All of which could lead to so much work that a man like Wyatt Harper might never have another day of idleness again.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
DeJean, who recorded the game-changing pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, couldn’t comprehend postseason idleness.
—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
All of which could lead to so much work that a man like Wyatt Harper might never have another day of idleness again.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
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Without this deliberate cultural shift, even the most elegant and expensive technical architecture will inevitably stall against the wall of organizational resistance and institutional inertia.
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Even at its peak, #MeToo felt seismic precisely because the movement was an aberration from the historical norm; nearly a decade later, that norm has reasserted itself with inertia on its side.
Noun
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Is this meant to be a response to Ruthye’s accusation that her inaction has consequences?
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Healthcare has trained generations of leaders to avoid the visible mistake more than the invisible cost of inaction.
Noun
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Some business owners say crime and neglect are driving away customers.
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Disabled people are disproportionately represented in detention, where inaccessible conditions, inadequate medical care, and systemic neglect put lives at risk.
Noun
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Although a genius at depicting indolence, Hockney himself worked with a rigorous commitment.
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The rapid growth of AI data centers is simply forcing us to reckon with many years of indolence.
Noun
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And the inactivity would have driven every last person reading this insane.
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After a period of inactivity last year, the well began injecting wastewater again last summer, only to be shut down again this March.
Noun
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The Genesis Convention Center, which had fallen into disuse and disrepair, opened in 1981.
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In 2015, an Angolan company called the Omatapalo Group bought the property, then overgrown and wild with disuse, made extensive renovations, and turned over management to Angolan hotel company OnTour, which opened Mumba Lodge in May 2025.
Noun
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So a material known for its inertness suddenly shows its true colors and starts to react and act as a catalyst.
Noun
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It’s been so interesting to hear about plugging and abandonment issues from a different perspective.
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Despite the closure, Ringas hopes the attractions — or even the entire park — will be saved from abandonment.
Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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