idleness

[ ahy-dl-nis ]

noun

1. the quality, state, or condition of being lazy, inactive, or idle:

   His lack of interest in the larger world and his consummate idleness were the causes of their dreadful divorce.

Word History and Origins

Origin of idleness¹

before 1000; idle ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Ordinarily, she says, the camps are places of profound idleness.

From MIT Technology Review

They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts, and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

From Vox

The first four games of their season were canceled, creating a seven-day gap between their last exhibition and Opening Day — idleness aplenty to damage the timing of every hitter and warp the regimen of every pitcher.

From Washington Post

And, though they didn’t know it at the time, it was just the beginning of a long period of idleness and uncertainty.

From Washington Post

As long as you can engage with it in a healthy way—such that boredom prompts you to engage in beneficial behaviors—you should try to spend some of your time in idleness.

From Popular-Science

Most will spend their three years behind bars in forced idleness.

From The Daily Beast

In his speech Monday morning, the president tried to warn his fellow Washingtonians against idleness.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, idleness, for Russell, is a state one reaches by escaping the encompassing world.

From The Daily Beast

Competing stores needlessly occupy the time of hundreds of thousands of employees in a mixture of idleness and industry.

From Project Gutenberg

But when all is said about the horror of idleness the broad fact remains that the hours of work are too long.

From Project Gutenberg

The boys have his presence, not only as a check to idleness or noise, but as an encouragement to industry.

From Project Gutenberg

I in these speculations will consumeMy idleness; because the truth, when known,Though sad, has yet its charms.

From Project Gutenberg

It is weakness which makes us hate an enemy and seek revenge, and it is idleness that pacifies us and causes us to neglect it.

From Project Gutenberg