as in tired
lacking bodily energy or motivation
when I had the flu, I felt listless and worn-out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 listless
At the center was James Harden, who seemed listless after logging nearly 40 minutes per game recently while the team got healthy.
—
Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Mar. 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander lost steam as the game went on, with his possessions looking more listless.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 21 June 2025
It’s been listless this week after unveiling several modest upcoming changes to the software that runs its devices.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Do Hill Democrats Finally Have an Opening? Since Musk started busting-up the federal government in January, Hill Democrats have been in a listless tilt in search of a strategy.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Mar. 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander lost steam as the game went on, with his possessions looking more listless.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 21 June 2025
It’s been listless this week after unveiling several modest upcoming changes to the software that runs its devices.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Do Hill Democrats Finally Have an Opening? Since Musk started busting-up the federal government in January, Hill Democrats have been in a listless tilt in search of a strategy.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for listless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listless
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2025
-
The toll on crew members goes far beyond simply being tired.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Senators looked spiritless days ago in their building Saturday night ahead of Game 4.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.—
Camille Berry,
Vogue,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Blue Jays had a lead and needed efficient innings to spare an exhausted bullpen.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
-
This feature, essentially a failsafe, Young explained, allows CAR cells to take a break, which can be useful in terms of keeping cytokine production from getting out of control and from becoming exhausted from working too long without time to rejuvenate.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ionic technology, on the other hand, speeds up dry time and cuts frizz (especially helpful in humid weather) but can leave fine hair looking too sleek or limp if overused.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 July 2025
-
In the now-viral video, Otis lies limp and unimpressed while his dad, Jake, strokes his leg with a concerned arm around him.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
With so much to do, and with a lackadaisical sense of urgency, each area is filled with gleeful distractions.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
-
Now then, some angry pundits will excoriate you for being so lackadaisical.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Paired with the ensemble of braiders is their unpredictable clientele – a string of characters demonstrating the breadth of the American women filling salon chairs, from party girls to nepo babies and sleepy nurses coming off the night shift.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
Even its flavor conjures a deep sleepy forest with woody, spicy and herbaceous notes, and finishes pleasantly bitter.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The juxtaposition of these two things: classic, early Hollywood decadence, which is languid and which has its own flavor of Americana, next to frank, twenty first century poetry written to music.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
But most of the trip was dominated by a drift that was languid, meditative, sharpening the pixels of the present tense in a way that is increasingly rare in our pixelated age.—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
His Southern drawl sounds like a languorous cross between early Brando and Mr. Blackwell.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
-
In the summer, people here are too busy enjoying themselves—drinking on patios, reading languorous books, stretching weekends in Crystal Beach or Sherkston out over three, four, five days—to do much of any importance.—
Aidan Ryan
June 4,
Literary Hub,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Listless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listless. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share