1
as in boredom
physical or mental inertness
following a couple of big mistakes early in the game, the team sank into an uncharacteristic listlessness and was never able to recover the lead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restlessness
the state of being bored
we searched desperately for something to jar us out of our listlessness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
general listlessness is often a side effect of chemotherapy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of listlessness
The disease in deer is often characterized by progressive weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooping ears, excessive drooling or thirst and a lack of fear of humans.
—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
But while it’s bound to be emotional, this transition doesn’t have to be a time of listlessness and sadness.
—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
5 Mar. 2026
These signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, listlessness or clinginess and loss of interest in physical play.
—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Nov. 2025
And the locker room could feel the listlessness heading into the game.
—
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
After a year of listlessness, the Democrats experienced their first major electoral string of victories on Tuesday, sweeping the Republicans in every major race.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.
—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
In early Christian thinking, its connotations of languor and listlessness, within the spirit no less than the body, lent it the status of a sin—a turning aside from God for the sake of earthly sorrow.
—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
In the second half, veteran center Garrett Bradbury sensed the Patriots offense stalling from its own listlessness.
—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
But while it’s bound to be emotional, this transition doesn’t have to be a time of listlessness and sadness.
—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
5 Mar. 2026
These signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, listlessness or clinginess and loss of interest in physical play.
—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Nov. 2025
And the locker room could feel the listlessness heading into the game.
—
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
After a year of listlessness, the Democrats experienced their first major electoral string of victories on Tuesday, sweeping the Republicans in every major race.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.
—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
In early Christian thinking, its connotations of languor and listlessness, within the spirit no less than the body, lent it the status of a sin—a turning aside from God for the sake of earthly sorrow.
—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
In the second half, veteran center Garrett Bradbury sensed the Patriots offense stalling from its own listlessness.
—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listlessness
Noun
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This isn't mere boredom, but chronic exhaustion from performing work employees know is meaningless and potentially automatable, yet cannot openly question.
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Swashbuckling and romantic, this story will chase away any signs of summer boredom.
Noun
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The weakness that began in technology stocks spread through Asia and Europe on Tuesday, while precious metals also came under pressure as investors reassessed the path of interest rates.
-
When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
Noun
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More severe signs of heat stroke include lethargy, weakness, the loss of the ability to stand, confusion, loss of coordination, vomiting and diarrhea.
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Symptoms include fatigue, excessive panting, disorientation, lethargy, discomfort, collapse and seizures.
Noun
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Like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed fighting to exhaustion, the two aging legends will look to do the same with a round-of-16 spot on the line.
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That gap between outward performance and inward exhaustion is what causes many owners to question their own judgment.
Noun
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But Supergirl doesn’t quite want to deal with the immensity of its protagonist’s feelings; her drunken stupor is often played for laughs, defined by disheveled hair, big sunglasses, and plenty of slurred speech.
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But now, the Outback appears to be out of its stupor.
Noun
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In an interview with Mental Floss, competitive eater Yasir Salem discusses how speed eaters will chew gum to strengthen their jaws to avoid fatigue during competitions.
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Fifty years later, his military haircut glistens with silver from a lifetime serving in fatigues.
Cite this Entry
“Listlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listlessness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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