listless

American

[list-lis] / ˈlɪst lɪs /

adjective

having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless; indifferent.

a listless mood;
a listless handshake.

listless British

/ ˈlɪstlɪs /

adjective

disinclined for any effort or exertion; lacking vigour, enthusiasm, or energy

"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 indifference.

Other Word Forms

listlessly adverb
listlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of listless

First recorded in 1400–50, listless is from the late Middle English word lystles. See list ⁴, -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 Treasury market moved in a listless fashion on Tuesday in response to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela — with traders more focused on a busy calendar week that includes Friday’s jobs report for December.

From MarketWatch

In the 2016 interview with Mecurio, Nick said that he was listless and that “I had nothing to fill my time. I had nothing to look forward to.”

From Los Angeles Times

Shares of the EV maker have been listless since the company’s Nov. 6 annual meeting, when investors learned that shareholders voted in favor of CEO Elon Musk’s giant pay package.

From Barron's

Shares have been listless since the company’s Nov. 6 annual meeting, down about $6 entering the day.

From Barron's

The listless team of the previous two games was gone.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023