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Synonyms

lifeless

American  
[lahyf-lis] / ˈlaɪf lɪs /

adjective

  1. not endowed with life; having no life; inanimate.

    lifeless matter.

    Synonyms:
    inorganic
    Antonyms:
    living
  2. destitute of living things.

    a lifeless planet.

  3. deprived of life; dead.

    a battlefield strewn with lifeless bodies.

    Synonyms:
    defunct
    Antonyms:
    living
  4. without animation, liveliness, or spirit; dull; colorless; torpid.

    a lifeless performance of a play.

    Synonyms:
    spiritless, sluggish, passive, inert, inactive
    Antonyms:
    lively
  5. insensible, as a person who has fainted.


lifeless British  
/ ˈlaɪflɪs /

adjective

  1. without life; inanimate; dead

  2. not sustaining living organisms

  3. having no vitality or animation

  4. unconscious

"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

Related Words

See dead.

Other Word Forms

  • lifelessly adverb
  • lifelessness noun

Etymology

Origin of lifeless

before 1000; Middle English lifles, Old English līflēas. See life, -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The New York Jets’ lifeless season ended with another embarrassing loss, this time a 35-8 drubbing by Buffalo, which was resting many key players including Allen.

From The Wall Street Journal

At first glance, the moon appears lifeless and inert.

From Science Daily

The plot played out in the ring was lifeless - a slow, joyless watch that would have struggled to earn even a charitable rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

From BBC

That grind was the focus of Musselman’s message to his team at halftime Wednesday, after USC had come out looking unusually lifeless.

From Los Angeles Times

The Bruins had fallen out of the national rankings and had no quality wins to their name after nearly a month of lifeless basketball.

From Los Angeles Times