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lackadaisical

[lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl]
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adjective
  1. without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.
  2. lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.
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Origin of lackadaisical

1760–70; lackadais(y) (variant of lackaday) + -ical
Related formslack·a·dai·si·cal·ly, adverblack·a·dai·si·cal·ness, noun

Synonyms

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2. slothful, unambitious, idle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

indifferentlycarelesslycoollyinformallyoffhandedlylackadaisicallyreservedly

Examples from the Web for lackadaisically

Historical Examples

  • But everything had not gone well, and he found it very difficult to carry himself otherwise than lackadaisically.

    The Small House at Allington

    Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for lackadaisically

lackadaisical

adjective
  1. lacking vitality and purpose
  2. lazy or idle, esp in a dreamy way
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Derived Formslackadaisically, adverblackadaisicalness, noun

Word Origin

C18: from earlier lackadaisy, extended form of lackaday
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lackadaisically

lackadaisical

adj.

1768 (Sterne), from interjection lackadaisy "alas, alack" (1748), an alteration of lack-a-day (1690s), from alack the day (1590s). Hence, "given to crying 'lack-a-day,' vapidly sentimental." Sense probably altered by influence of lax. Related: Lackadaisically.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper