lackadaisical

adjective

ˌla-kə-ˈdā-zi-kəl How to pronounce lackadaisical (audio)
Definition of lackadaisicalnext
as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation feeling particularly lackadaisical in the summer heat, they lazily tossed a ball back and forth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lackadaisical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lackadaisical are languid, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

Where would languid be a reasonable alternative to lackadaisical?

The meanings of languid and lackadaisical largely overlap; however, languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

In what contexts can languorous take the place of lackadaisical?

Although the words languorous and lackadaisical have much in common, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is listless a more appropriate choice than lackadaisical?

While the synonyms listless and lackadaisical are close in meaning, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

When could spiritless be used to replace lackadaisical?

While in some cases nearly identical to lackadaisical, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

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 lackadaisical The Longhorns will have to tighten up their defense after two lackadaisical efforts. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026 Some regard sociology as a gut major that caters to lackadaisical students. —Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 The defense was lackadaisical at best, while the offense wasn’t much better. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026 Some regard sociology as a gut major that caters to lackadaisical students. —Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lackadaisical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lackadaisical
  1. listless
  2. tired
  3. languorous
  4. spiritless
  5. languid
  6. exhausted
  7. weak
  8. sleepy
Adjective
  • This sense of being listless without Kane is nothing new.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Smith’s swing capped a six-run ninth for the Braves, who were mostly listless offensively until that point.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of listless
Adjective
  • For workers who are tired of their jobs following them home every night, and for businesses that are tired of the burnout, the turnover, and the chaos that comes from not having boundaries, Zenzap is the work chat app that changes everything.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • One still gets tired of the Wednesday rice and fish dish.
    — Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Cord grass ripples across these languorous northern marshes and, while ships lay wounded and stranded in the former Aral, all that remains of the old Parkgate are some very old photographs, showing frigates, sand, and some very fetching Victorian bathing attire.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
  • As at Ha’s Snack Bar, the food is an elegant wallop of neon flavors, foregrounding the punctilious greenness of Vietnamese herbs and the languorous funk of organ meats and offcuts, but now there’s room to breathe, to relax a little, to take it all in, to linger.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of languorous
Adjective
  • The Chiefs turned that spiritless first half into a 28-7 blowout Monday night against the Commanders, opening the second half with touchdown drives of 80, 75 and 94 yards.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
  • From spiritless spirits to refusing to open up a bar tab, members of Generation Z are continuing to challenge alcohol traditions.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of spiritless
Adjective
  • There’s a weird disconnect between the show’s pleasantly languid visual feel and its characters’ emotions.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The oversized teddy bear of a man with the languid baritone, who speaks with the eloquence of a poet, the encouragement of a coach, and the comfort of a minister, came up in the legendary Night Hawk in the 1970s.
    — Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of languid
Adjective
  • Taylor was discharged after four days, weak and exhausted but out of the woods.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
  • What is exhausted is repetition without thought.
    — Manuela Moscoso, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • The slide appears to have involved a thick slab of soft snow breaking loose at a weak layer in the snowpack, the report said.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Endowed not only with a privileged birthright but—unlike the actual princes over in England, who had weak chins and went bald young—the physical stature to match?
    — Jeffrey Eugenides, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area Located in the sleepy St James parish in the hills, the lively west coast towns of the island are a mere 10-minute drive, boasting beaches, bars, restaurants, shops, and grocery stores.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Flower Beds, Perennials, and Ornamentals Herbaceous perennials are likely still pretty sleepy, but fat buds, flowers, and even the start of leaves unfurling are all happening on woodier ornamentals.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of sleepy

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Cite this Entry

“Lackadaisical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lackadaisical. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of lackadaisical for Spanish Speakers

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