shiftless

American  

[shift-lis] / ˈʃɪft lɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy.

   Synonyms:

   indolent, careless, slothful

2. lacking in incentive, ambition, or aspiration.

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shiftless British  

/ ˈʃɪftlɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in ambition or initiative

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Other Word Forms

• shiftlessly
  adverb
• shiftlessness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of shiftless

First recorded in 1555–65; shift + -less

Explanation

If someone calls you shiftless, it's not a compliment — they're saying that you're lazy and unambitious! Someone who's shiftless avoids hard work at any cost, sometimes through procrastination. Do you hate getting sweaty or feeling tired at the end of a long day of labor? When volunteers are requested, do you slump in your seat instead of raising your hand? If so, you can call yourself shiftless. This adjective comes from a now-uncommon use of the noun shift as "resources." So if you don't have the get-up-and-go — or shift — to do a job, you're shiftless.

Example Sentences

At the time, John Armfield was lacking in purpose: Shiftless and footloose, he had recently been chased away from a county in North Carolina for fathering a child out of wedlock, Rothman said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2019

The Bored and the Shiftless, in Movies and on TV By 1994, many critics tired of Coupland’s kvetching.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2015

Shiftless younger son Adam has brought his latest girlfriend and his current enthusiasm, a magazine dedicated to local arts.

From The Guardian • Jul. 1, 2013

Shiftless old Jonas shuffled in presently with the oval silver tray, ancient decanters, and seedcakes.

From Ailsa Paige by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Shiftless and blind he had been; but there had been a geniality about him which had softened his faults to one who loved him.

From Children of the Desert by Dodge, Louis