shiftless

[ shift-lis ]

adjective

1. lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy.

   Synonyms: indolent, careless, slothful

2. lacking in incentive, ambition, or aspiration.

shiftless

/ ˈʃɪftlɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in ambition or initiative

Derived Forms

• ˈshiftlessly, adverb
• ˈshiftlessness, noun

Other Words From

• shiftless·ly adverb
• shiftless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shiftless¹

First recorded in 1555–65; shift + -less

Example Sentences

He was a shiftless loser, and now he lives and works on a ranch where he can learn the value of a hard day’s work.

From Vox

Elaine is not some shiftless next-door neighbor whom you can attack with impunity, some member of a competing tribe who must be dispatched with dispatch.

From Washington Post

A self-review of “Shiftless When Idle”: title—good; song—kinda.

From The Daily Beast

Third, he wants to turn America into a Euro-paradise for the shiftless and unmotivated.

From The Daily Beast

The other side can't stand the idea of taking wealth from hard-working Us to shiftless and lazy Them.

From The Daily Beast

There was hardly to be found in all Southern Tennessee a more contented, shiftless, ill-bestead family than theirs.

From Project Gutenberg

Verena was a poor old widow, doddering and shiftless: Charity suspected that she came for her keep.

From Project Gutenberg

All went well till lazy and shiftless immigrants arrived to enjoy the paradise also.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet he did not retreat from his moral and intellectual standards, or lose the respect of that shiftless community.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who did so were usually the land speculators and people of weak, irresolute, or shiftless character.

From Project Gutenberg